A Russian warship fired two signal rockets at a Danish military helicopter over the Baltic Sea on Tuesday, an incident the Danish government called unacceptable and dangerous. The confrontation happened on the same day a Russian drone was shot down by a NATO fighter jet after violating Lithuanian airspace.
According to the Danish Armed Forces, the helicopter approached the Russian vessel in international waters to carry out a routine inspection when it was suddenly fired on with two signal rockets, one of which passed within a few metres of the aircraft. Danish authorities said the Russian ship gave no warning and made no prior contact before opening fire.
Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the behaviour was completely unacceptable and could have put lives at risk. He accused Russia of gradually shifting the boundary of what it considers acceptable conduct.
Russia's ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, responded by accusing the Danish helicopter of carrying out dangerous and provocative manoeuvres near the Russian ship, adding that this was not the first time such an incident had happened.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the incidents were not isolated cases, but part of a pattern of growing Russian aggression and provocation aimed at testing Europe's readiness and resolve. The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union, responsible for coordinating the bloc's response to security threats among member states.
Drone shot down over Lithuania
The warship incident came hours after a Russian drone crossed into Lithuanian airspace from neighbouring Belarus and was shot down by an Italian NATO fighter jet. Lithuanian authorities said the drone remained over Lithuanian territory for about 30 minutes, and an analysis of the wreckage confirmed it was carrying explosive cargo.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the country was in contact with its European Union and NATO allies, adding that there was clearly a great deal of work ahead. His remarks referred to a growing number of provocations and acts of sabotage attributed to Russia across the region. Lithuania is a NATO and EU member that borders both Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave.
Zelensky offers to halt attacks on Russian soil
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he was willing to stop attacks on Russian territory if Moscow committed to suspending strikes on Ukraine's critical infrastructure. He said this could be a first step towards peace.
His remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to suspend attacks on each other's energy infrastructure.
