Responding to a Russian frigate that fired flares at a military helicopter in international waters, the Danish government accelerated a 1.8 billion Danish crowns defense package for Ukraine. Officials condemned the mid-air encounter as reckless intimidation, while Moscow blamed Danish pilots for carrying out provocative maneuvers.
A Close Encounter Over International Waters
The maritime showdown unfolded when a Russian frigate operating off the southernmost Danish town of Gedser targeted a monitoring aircraft from the national armed forces. On Tuesday (September 15, 2026), the European Union accused Russia of the “reckless” firing of flares at a Danish helicopter, which, with the shooting down of a drone over Lithuania, heightened the continent’s anxiety over the Ukraine-Russia war. Amid a mounting security showdown, the Kremlin in turn focused its diplomatic fire on France’s initiative to bring European countries under its nuclear umbrella, insisting it was “creating risks”. Denmark and Russia blamed each other for the flares fired at a Danish military helicopter monitoring a Russian frigate on Monday (September 14).
According to the Danish armed forces, an air force Fennec helicopter was conducting a routine photographic operation of the Russian warship in international waters when the vessel deployed emergency countermeasures.
“One of the air force’s Fennec helicopters was today fired at with flares during a routine photographic operation of a Russian frigate, which was located in international waters off Gedser,”
Danish armed forces, Official Military Statement
The frigate discharged two flares towards the helicopter. One of the flares passed at close range to the helicopter, creating an immediate hazard for the flight crew.
The government confirmed it was fast-tracking a major military donation to Kyiv valued at an estimated 1.8 billion Danish crowns ($276 million) that will be used for air defences, the government said on Friday, September 18.
Photo: kyivindependent.com
The newly expedited funding targets critical air defence capabilities. Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus explained that the military response was designed to counter any attempt to intimidate the Nordic state after a meeting with parliamentarians.
“If the Russians think they can rattle us… then our response is to ramp up our support for Ukraine faster than we had intended,”
Photo: euronews.com
Jeppe Bruus, Defence Minister
This expedited package follows a broader financial commitment by the Nordic nation, which has historically stood as a leading provider of financial aid on a per-capita basis since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen echoed that sentiment, insisting that if anyone thinks they can pressure us to hold back on our support for Ukraine, they are mistaken. Denmark has provided around 76.8 billion Danish kroner ($11.7 billion) in defense aid to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, including equipment such as F-16 fighter jets and Caesar howitzers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned what she said was reckless and dangerous Russian behaviour after the security scares on X, stating that these are not isolated incidents and are part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression and provocation against Europe, testing readiness and resolve.
In Copenhagen, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned the reckless action from Russia in a statement on X, adding that Russian actions are meant to intimidate and divide, will not succeed, and that they will not waver. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen went further, warning that the actions were completely unacceptable, could have put human lives at risk, and that Russia is gradually shifting the boundary for what they consider acceptable behaviour.
Confronted with the escalation, the Danish government summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin for a formal diplomatic discussion about the incident.
Moscow Shifts Blame to Danish Pilots
The Russian diplomatic mission rejected the allegations entirely, turning the accusation back on the Danish flight crews. Ambassador Barbin claimed that the helicopter’s approach crossed the line into provocation through a written statement provided to AFP.
“The Danish side’s attempts to explain the helicopter’s provocative actions against the Russian frigate as ‘routine practice’ give rise to serious concern about the possible consequences of such recklessness,”
Vladimir Barbin, Russian Ambassador to Denmark
The ambassador maintained that the Russian side will thoroughly investigate all the circumstances of the incident while adding that this is not the first time that Danish Air Force helicopters have carried out dangerous manoeuvres near Russian warships when they were at sea and outside Denmark’s territorial waters. The ambassador claimed last year he informed the Danish foreign ministry of dangerous flyovers and low-altitude hovering by a Danish Air Force helicopter over a large anti-submarine vessel. Meanwhile, Lithuania also announced that NATO fighter jets had shot down a drone over its territory, with President Gitanas Nauseda noting that with Russia intensifying its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for the region.
NATO Jets ‘Down' Russian Drone Over Baltics as Putin's Warship Fires Flares at Danish Helicopter |4K
