A Russian frigate fired two flares toward a Danish military helicopter in international waters off the coast of Denmark on Monday. The flares narrowly missed the aircraft during a routine patrol over the Baltic Sea, marking the latest in a series of close encounters between Russian forces and NATO members this year.
Denmark has summoned Russia's ambassador over the incident, which Copenhagen says is part of an increasingly aggressive pattern of Russian behavior. European leaders have blamed Russia for a string of similar episodes, including airspace incursions and other provocations.
Russia has countered these accusations, claiming that Danish military helicopters have performed dangerous maneuvers near Russian warships in the Baltic Sea. Russia's ambassador to Denmark handed an official note to Copenhagen to formally complain about such incidents.
The event took place on the same day that NATO jets shot down a drone over Lithuania. This latest security incident on the alliance's eastern flank occurs during Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine and reflects a worsening relationship between the two nations.