Russia's defence minister rewards commander of ship that fired flares towards Danish helicopter

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov has rewarded the commander of the corvette Soobrazitelny, which fired flares towards a Danish Armed Forces helicopter in international waters near Gedser.

Source: European Pravda citing the Russian Defence Ministry on social media

Details: The Russian Defence Ministry said Belousov awarded the Medal for Combat Merit to the commander of the Soobrazitelny for what it described as "skilful and decisive actions in preventing a provocation by a Danish Air Force helicopter".

Russia's Defence Ministry said that at 14:22 on 14 September, the Soobrazitelny, a corvette of Russia's Baltic Fleet, was operating in international waters in the south-western Baltic Sea when it detected an aerial asset identified as a Danish Air Force Fennec helicopter. The ministry said the helicopter was approaching the Russian warship and did not respond to calls on the international communications channel.

Quote: "To prevent a provocation by the Danish helicopter, the corvette commander decided to fire two red signal flares, after which the helicopter left the area where the Russian warship was operating."

Background:

• Denmark summoned the Russian ambassador after a Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish helicopter on 14 September.
• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, commenting on the incident, said that Russia had stepped up its hybrid warfare against Europe.
• Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin accused the Danish military of a "provocation" over its manoeuvres near a Russian frigate.

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