Belousov Awards Warship Captain for ‘Skillfully and Decisively’ Firing Flares at Danish Helicopter

Sep. 16, 2026 The corvette Soobrazitelny. Damien (CC BY-SA 2.0) Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Defense Minister Andrei Belousov awarded a ship captain for his “skillful and decisive actions” after firing signal flares at a Danish military helicopter in the Baltic Sea earlier this week. The captain, who was not identified by name, received Russia’s medal “For Courage” following an incident during which his ship, the Baltic Fleet corvette Soobrazitelny, “prevented a provocation by a Danish helicopter” in international waters by launching two signal flares at the aircraft. In a statement, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that the Danish helicopter failed to respond to the Soobrazitelny’s radio calls when it was detected in the southwestern Baltic Sea on Monday. The helicopter left the vicinity of the Russian ship after the flares were fired, it added. Danish Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus accused the crew of the Soobrazitelny of making no attempt to contact the helicopter, which he said narrowly avoided the flare signals that were launched in its direction. Bruus said the helicopter was following its usual route to photograph the corvette as part of a routine operation that it has done several times before. Russia has “increased their willingness to take risks in terms of how far they are prepared to go,” Bruus said in comments to Reuters. Russia’s Ambassador to Copenhagen Vladimir Barbin, who was summoned over the incident, in turn accused Danish military aircraft of “dangerous maneuvers near Russian warships,” creating the risk of collision. Barbin claimed Denmark has rejected Moscow’s proposals to sign a maritime and airspace agreement that could help prevent future incidents. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen blamed Russia for seeking to “sow fear and discord” over Monday’s close encounter, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it part of “a broader pattern of Russian aggression and provocation against Europe.” The Danish straits are the main sea route in and out of the Baltic Sea for commercial and military shipping. They are also a major artery for global oil shipments, including from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Denmark , Defense Ministry , Navy Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Yacht Linked to Putin Sails Through Danish Waters Escorted by Russian Warships According to Danish broadcaster DR, Graceful was accompanied by a Russian destroyer and a patrol ship. 1 Min read Russia Begins Major Naval Exercises With Most of Its Fleet The multi-day drills involve around 20,000 servicemen and 300 surface ships, submarines and support vessels. 2 Min read Russia Orders More Firepower Against Ukraine Naval Drones "There must be training for personnel every day. Training on how to repel attacks from the air and by uncrewed boats," Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said... 1 Min read Russia Says Destroyed Ukraine’s ‘Last Warship’ The landing ship Yuri Olefirenko was struck by “high-precision” weaponry in the Black Sea port of Odesa, the Defense Ministry said. 1 Min read