Denmark slams 'reckless' firing of flares by Russian ship

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has condemned as "reckless" a Russian frigate firing flares at a Danish military helicopter in the Baltic Sea yesterday.

The armed forces said in a statement last night that "one of the air force's Fennec helicopters was fired at with flares during a routine photographic operation of a Russian frigate, which was located in international waters off Gedser," Denmark's southernmost town.

The Russian ship had fired "two flares towards the helicopter. One of the flares passed at close range to the helicopter," it added.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen slammed the incident as "reckless action from Russia".

"Russian actions are meant to intimidate and divide. They will not succeed. We will not waver," Ms Frederiksen said in a statement on X.