Ankara: Denmark's foreign minister announced Tuesday that the Russian ambassador was summoned after a Russian frigate allegedly fired flares at a Danish military helicopter. "This is completely unacceptable. Therefore, Russia's ambassador has been summoned for a conversation about the incident," Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on US social media platform X.

According to Anadolu Agency, late Monday, a Danish Air Force Fennec helicopter was fired at with flares during routine photo coverage of a Russian frigate, which was in international waters off Gedser, a coastal town on the island of Falster, the Defense Ministry stated. A Russian frigate fired two flares at the helicopter, with one passing "within a short distance of the helicopter."

On X, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the incident, describing it as a reckless action from Russia towards the Danish military during a routine overflight. She emphasized that Russian actions are meant to intimidate and divide, but they will not succeed, and Denmark will not waver.

The incident off Denmark occurred amid escalating tensions across Europe over a series of alleged sabotage attacks and airspace violations that European countries attribute to Russia. Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin stated that Russia would thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Barbin mentioned that this was not the first time Danish Air Force helicopters had conducted what he described as 'dangerous maneuvers' near Russian warships.

Barbin had previously raised concerns about such incidents and argued that the latest episode demonstrated 'communication problems' on Copenhagen's part rather than with Russian Navy vessels. He criticized the Danish side's attempts to explain the helicopter's actions as routine practice, expressing serious concern about the possible consequences of such recklessness.