Russia summons Danish envoy over helicopter incident

Russia summoned Denmark's ambassador on Wednesday to protest what it described as the "dangerous manoeuvres" of a Danish helicopter fired upon with flares by a Russian warship earlier this month.

The incident took place on September 14, as the helicopter was photographing the Russian naval frigate in international waters, the Danish military said.

Denmark said one of the ship's flares passed at close range to the helicopter and described Russia's actions as "reckless", an accusation denied by Moscow, which said the helicopter was at fault.

The helicopter was not damaged in the incident and its crew were unharmed.

"On the 30 September, the Danish ambassador to Russia was summoned to Russia's foreign ministry," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It was pointed out to the Danish diplomat that the Russian side views the dangerous manoeuvres of the Danish Air Force helicopter as a gross violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," it added.

Similar actions could lead to escalation and "create the risk of a serious incident", the ministry said.

There was no immediate response from Copenhagen to Russia's summoning.

The incident comes amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine's European allies -- among them Denmark -- over the Ukraine war.

NATO has accused Russia of carrying out an escalating campaign of hybrid warfare against Kyiv's European backers, an accusation Moscow rejects.