Russia Issues Warning to Denmark Following Baltic Sea Incident
WHO:
Al Jazeera - Moscow’s ambassador in Copenhagen, Vladimir Barbin, involved in the incident.
Al Jazeera - Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus commented on the incident.
Al Jazeera - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the incident.
Al Jazeera - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the incident.
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - A Russian frigate fired two flares that narrowly missed a Danish military helicopter.
Al Jazeera - The Danish Defence Minister stated that one flare passed within a “matter of metres” of the aircraft.
Al Jazeera - Denmark will not invoke NATO's Article 5 consultations over the incident.
WHERE:
Al Jazeera - The incident occurred in international waters off Denmark in the Baltic Sea.
Al Jazeera - The Danish Straits are identified as the main shipping gateway and key oil route in the Baltic.
WHY:
Al Jazeera - Russia accused the Danish helicopter of engaging in “dangerous manoeuvres” and being provocative.
Al Jazeera - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the incident as part of a pattern of intensifying Russian hybrid warfare against Europe.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - The Danish helicopter was on a routine mission to photograph the Russian frigate when the flares were fired.
Al Jazeera - Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Western politicians and diplomats to assess the risks of traveling to Ukraine following a drone strike on a rail line.
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 10:45 UTC)
A Russian frigate fired two flares that narrowly missed a Danish military helicopter during a routine mission to photograph the ship in international waters off Denmark in the Baltic Sea. Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus noted that one flare passed within a “matter of metres” of the aircraft, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the incident as part of a troubling pattern of intensifying Russian hybrid warfare against Europe. In response to the incident, Denmark has decided not to invoke NATO's Article 5 consultations, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the matter.