Conflict & Security
Russia, Denmark trade blame after frigate flares near Danish helicopter
September 15, 2026 at 04:01 PM · Updated 31d ago
Coverage
4 reports · 2 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 9 hours
SNSky News Arabia
مسيّرات وقنابل مضيئة.. تنديد أوروبي بـ"استفزازات" روسية
(opens the publisher’s site)SNSky News Arabia
المصانع والعقول.. قوة أوروبا العسكرية في مرمى "حرب خفية"
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera English
Russia warns Denmark after near miss in Baltic Sea
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Denmark says Russian warship fired flares at military helicopter
(opens the publisher’s site)Denmark and Russia traded blame on Tuesday after a Russian frigate fired two flares that narrowly missed a Danish military helicopter in the Baltic Sea.
- A Russian frigate fired two flares that narrowly missed a Danish Fennec helicopter conducting a routine photographic operation in international waters off Gedser on Monday.
- Russia's ambassador to Copenhagen, Vladimir Barbin, delivered a formal note blaming the helicopter's "dangerous manoeuvres" and demanding steps to prevent a repeat of the incident.
- Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said one flare passed within a "matter of metres" of the aircraft and accused Russia of "deeply unprofessional seamanship."
- Denmark said it would not invoke NATO Article 5 over the incident, while Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russia wants to "sow fear and discord."
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the Russian frigate's flare firing as part of a broader Russian pattern of provocations against Europe.