An incident occurred in international waters near Gedser, drawing attention not only to relations between Russia and Denmark but also to wider security issues in Europe. A Danish Fennec military helicopter, which was carrying out a routine aerial survey, was met with an unexpected reaction from a Russian frigate. According to reports from the Danish Armed Forces Command, the Russian vessel fired two signal flares in the direction of the helicopter, one of which flew dangerously close.
This incident did not go unnoticed by senior figures in Denmark. The country’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, expressed concern, describing the Russian navy’s actions as part of a broader strategy to intimidate and destabilise Europe. Her statement highlights the mounting tensions in international relations in the region. Mette Frederiksen called for unity and a strengthening of defence capabilities both within Denmark and across the continent as a whole.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, did not remain on the sidelines, strongly condemning Russia’s actions and emphasising their unacceptability. As a result of the incident, the Russian Ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide an explanation.
This is not the first time that the actions of the Russian navy have raised questions. In 2026, the frigate ‘Admiral Grigorovich’ had already come under media scrutiny after firing warning shots at the British yacht ‘Bright Future’ in the English Channel. At the time, the Russian side claimed it had attempted to contact the yacht and had used signal flares before firing, in order to prevent a misunderstanding.
As journalists have discovered, the yacht belongs to British pensioners Alan and Jane Kelvey, who are known for their adventures and their blog about restoring an abandoned yacht. It is clear that the actions of the Russian navy are complicating relations in international waters, particularly in European waters.