A Russian frigate fired two signal flares in the direction of a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Falster on Monday. Danish politicians have called the incident serious and summoned Russia’s ambassador in Copenhagen for a talk.
The Danish public broadcaster DR reported the episode and has followed it in a running live blog since Monday night. On Tuesday, DR also invited readers to submit questions about the incident to its defense correspondent, Mads Korsager.
According to the Brussels Times, the aircraft was a Danish Fennec helicopter flying in international waters off Gedser, at the southern tip of Falster. The Danish armed forces said the helicopter was filming the Russian vessel as part of a routine task.
Two flares were fired from the frigate, and one of them passed close to the helicopter, the Brussels Times reports. No injuries and no damage to the aircraft were reported.
Ambassador summoned
Danish politicians have described the incident as serious, according to DR. Russia’s ambassador to Denmark has been called in for a conversation over the episode.
DR’s live blog has carried further developments through Tuesday and Wednesday. Among them is Russia’s own account of what its warship did in the Baltic Sea.
Per DR, the Russian Ministry of Defense has stated that signal flares were fired toward the Danish helicopter. DR has also reported that the captain of the vessel is being honored for the firing of the flares.
German police have confirmed which warship was involved in the encounter, DR reported on Wednesday. The confirmation identified the specific vessel that fired in the direction of the Danish helicopter.
Where it happened
Gedser lies on the southern coast of Falster, on one of the busiest shipping approaches to the Baltic Sea. The airspace and waters there are international, and Danish forces regularly monitor and photograph passing naval traffic.
The Danish armed forces have described Monday’s flight as a routine assignment involving filming of the Russian frigate. That task was underway when the flares were fired, as reported by the Brussels Times.
DR is continuing to update its live coverage of the incident, including the reactions from Danish politicians and the exchange with Russian authorities. The broadcaster’s defense correspondent is answering reader questions in the same format.
