The Russian Foreign Ministry said it lodged a protest over what it described as the “unprofessional and provocative” actions of a Danish helicopter near the Soobrazitelny corvette of Russia’s Baltic Fleet in international waters in the southwestern Baltic Sea, Anadolu Agency reported.
According to the ministry, the helicopter made a “dangerous” approach toward the corvette that threatened navigational safety and ignored warnings about its altitude.
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The ministry said the Russian vessel fired two signal flares in a direction away from the helicopter to draw its attention. The aircraft then left the area, it said.
Moscow described the helicopter’s maneuvers as a “gross violation” of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and rejected accusations made by Danish authorities over the incident.
The ministry also warned that a recurrence of what it called “reckless” actions could lead to an escalation and increase the risk of a serious incident amid heightened tensions in the Baltic region.
Denmark has given a different account of the encounter. On Sept. 15, the Danish Defense Ministry said a Fennec helicopter had been fired at with flares during routine photographic surveillance of a Russian frigate in international waters off Gedser, a coastal town on the island of Falster.
According to Denmark, the Russian vessel fired two flares at the helicopter on Sept. 14, with one passing “within a short distance” of the aircraft.
Denmark also summoned Russia’s ambassador over the incident. The Russian envoy said Moscow would conduct a thorough investigation.
In a Sept. 16 statement, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the corvette was operating in international waters when its crew detected the Danish helicopter approaching and said it failed to respond to calls over an international communications channel.
The ministry said the corvette’s commander ordered two red signal flares to be fired to prevent what it called a provocation, after which the helicopter left the area.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Baltic region, where European countries have accused Russia of involvement in alleged sabotage operations and airspace violations. Russia has rejected such allegations.
