Russian frigate fires flares towards Danish military helicopter, Denmark says

A Russian frigate fired two flares toward a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark on Monday, Denmark’s military said. The incident narrowly missed the Fennec helicopter while it was on a routine mission to photograph the Russian vessel, the Danish Defence Command said. One flare passed close to the aircraft. Flares are pyrotechnics typically used as a sea warning signal. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen called the episode “unacceptable” and said it could have endangered human lives. He summoned Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, while Russia’s embassy did not respond to a request for comment outside regular hours.