The Danish Ministry of Defense stated that a Russian frigate in the Baltic Sea fired two signal flares in the direction of a military AS-550 Fennec helicopter, one of which passed dangerously close to the aircraft. Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the kingdom.

According to the Danish Ministry of Defense, the helicopter was performing an observation and photo-taking mission off the southern coast of the country. After the pyrotechnic devices were launched, the crew changed course. No one was injured, and no damage to the helicopter was recorded.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called the incident unacceptable.

The Danish side, however, does not consider the incident a military attack. Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus noted that the crew of the Russian ship could have contacted the helicopter by radio if they wanted to express dissatisfaction with its presence. The Danish side does not disclose the specific name of the frigate.

We emphasize that the Russian side has not made an official statement about the incident.

On August 12, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would respond symmetrically to attempts to seize its ships, and not necessarily in the same waters.