Denmark has summoned the Russian ambassador following an incident in the Baltic Sea where a Russian warship allegedly fired two emergency flares at a Danish military helicopter. The helicopter was conducting a routine monitoring operation on Monday when the flares were discharged.
According to the Danish armed forces, one of the flares passed close to the Fennec helicopter. The Danish government described the action as "reckless" and "completely unacceptable," with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stating it was intended to "intimidate and divide."
"Russia is gradually shifting the boundary for what they consider acceptable behaviour, and that is something we cannot accept," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. Moscow has not yet commented on the incident.
The event occurred on the same day NATO forces shot down a drone over Lithuania, highlighting heightened security concerns on the alliance's eastern flank amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Lithuanian authorities reported the drone entered their airspace from neighboring Belarus shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized the need for vigilance, stating, "With Russia intensifying its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for our region. Together with our NATO Allies, Lithuania will defend its airspace."
Poland also reported "aviation operations" in its airspace Monday night due to the activity of Russian unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Ukrainian territory, describing these as preventive measures to secure airspace.
NATO jets have been scrambled multiple times this year to intercept stray Ukrainian drones that have crossed into Baltic countries like Estonia and Latvia. Ukraine has attributed these incursions to Russian electronic warfare capabilities.