A flare from a Russian frigate to a military helicopter off the coast of Denmark

The Danish army announced that a frigate belonging to the Russian navy fired two flares at a Fennec type military helicopter belonging to the Danish Air Force in the incident off the coast of the country.

It was stated that the helicopter was carrying out a routine mission to image the Russian warship.

According to the statement of the Danish Defense Command, one of the flares launched passed very close to the helicopter.

No injuries or damage occurred in the incident.

Flares are known as pyrotechnic devices used mostly for warning purposes in maritime.

However, the Danish administration considered the firing of cartridges from such a close distance to a military helicopter as a serious security risk.

DENMARK: UNACCEPTABLE

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the incident as "unacceptable".

Rasmussen stated that Russia's behavior could endanger human life and that Moscow was "increasingly pushing the limits of acceptable behavior."

Emphasizing that Denmark is trying to ensure that maritime traffic passes safely through the country's waters, Rasmussen announced that the Russian Ambassador in Copenhagen was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to the incident.

The Danish administration's decision to summon the Russian ambassador indicated that the incident could turn into diplomatic tension between the two countries.

The Russian Embassy in Copenhagen did not make a public statement about the incident at the first stage.

The incident took place at a time when increasing military contacts and mutual surveillance activities between Russia and NATO countries in the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe were on the agenda.