A Russian frigate fired two signal flares at a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Gedser on Monday, 14 September, while the aircraft was carrying out a routine photographic mission. One of the flares passed close to the helicopter, according to the Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret). No crew members were injured and the aircraft was not damaged.
The incident involved a Fennec helicopter operated by the Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet). The Russian frigate was sailing in international waters off Gedser, at the southern tip of the Danish island of Falster and close to the Baltic Sea.
The Danish Armed Forces said the frigate fired two flares towards the helicopter during what it described as routine photographic coverage of the Russian vessel. One passed “at a short distance” from the aircraft.
Flares are pyrotechnic devices that can be used at sea to attract attention or send signals. DR reported that military specialists considered “signal flares” the most precise description of the devices involved.
Denmark summons Russian ambassador over frigate incident
Defence Minister (Forsvarsminister) Jeppe Bruus described the incident as serious and said the Russian frigate had demonstrated “very unprofessional seamanship”.
According to Bruus, there had been no prior communication between the Russian vessel and the Danish helicopter, as far as he was aware. He said there were several established ways for a ship to contact an approaching aircraft instead.
Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently summoned Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin over the incident.
Foreign Minister (Udenrigsminister) Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the Russian action was “completely unacceptable” and could have put human lives at risk.
Bruus also briefed Danish parliamentary parties on Tuesday morning. The government has stressed that the Danish military will continue monitoring military vessels near Denmark as part of its regular activities.
Russia disputes Denmark’s interpretation
Russia has rejected Copenhagen’s interpretation of the incident.
Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin said the Danish helicopter had behaved provocatively and argued that communication problems were on the Danish side rather than with the Russian Navy. Russia also submitted a formal protest to the Danish authorities over what it described as dangerous manoeuvres by Danish military helicopters near Russian vessels.
The two governments therefore disagree over the circumstances leading up to the launch of the flares. The Danish Armed Forces has so far released only limited operational details beyond confirming that the helicopter was conducting routine photographic surveillance and that one flare passed close to it.
Both the frigate and the helicopter were operating in international waters or airspace when the incident occurred.
Denmark does not see grounds for NATO Articles 4 or 5
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Copenhagen does not consider it grounds for invoking NATO‘s consultation or collective defence mechanisms.
Asked whether Denmark was considering Article 4 or Article 5, Bruus said it was not.
Article 4 allows NATO members to request consultations when they believe their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened. Article 5 establishes the Alliance’s collective defence principle in the event of an armed attack.
The Danish response has instead focused on diplomatic protest and maintaining the country’s existing military monitoring activities.
Frederiksen links the episode to broader Russian pressure
Prime Minister (Statsminister) Mette Frederiksen placed the incident in the wider context of deteriorating security relations between Russia and European countries.
She said it formed part of what Denmark sees as a pattern of an increasingly aggressive and assertive Russia that is testing NATO and intensifying hybrid pressure against Europe.
“Russia wants to frighten and sow division,” Frederiksen said in a written statement. She argued that European countries should respond by cooperating more closely and strengthening their defence capabilities.
The episode off Gedser did not result in casualties or damage, but the close passage of one of the flares illustrates the risk created when Russian and NATO military assets operate near each other in the Baltic region. Denmark’s decision not to seek NATO consultations also indicates that Copenhagen is treating the incident as a serious military and diplomatic provocation, while seeking to prevent it from escalating into a broader confrontation.
