Russian Warship Fires Flare At German Helicopter In Baltic Sea

A Russian warship fired a flare at a German military helicopter patrolling the Baltic Sea on December 4, 2024. The flare used as a signal was shot at the helicopter during its routine flight.

It is still unclear whether the flare was fired intentionally or just a signal.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, speaking at a NATO meeting in Brussels, described the flare as a “threatening act” but didn’t go into further detail about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

While the flare was not a weapon, it could have been dangerous if it hit the helicopter. Flares are typically used for signalling not for attack but the use of a flare in this way is being taken seriously by NATO.

The German Defense Ministry has not yet confirmed whether the helicopter was on a regular mission or conducting special operations when the incident occurred. The flare itself didn’t cause any harm, but the situation has grabbed attention due to the growing number of military activities in the Baltic Sea.

Baerbock says that incidents like these are becoming more frequent, and NATO is closely monitoring the situation. The Baltic Sea is of strategic importance to NATO members, particularly Finland, Germany, and Sweden.

Russia’s growing military presence in the region has led to concerns about safety and security, especially with the rise in hybrid warfare tactics.

NATO has promised to increase its security measures to protect its infrastructure and prevent any future escalations.

The incident is also being investigated in connection with other security concerns in the region, like the recent damage to undersea communication cables.

Two undersea cables were severed in the Baltic Sea, one connecting Finland to Germany and the other connecting Lithuania to Sweden within 24 hours of each other.

Russia was blamed for possible sabotage by the United States but soon it denied any involvement and called the accusations absurd.

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson rejected the allegations, saying Russia can’t be blamed for everything without any reason during a press briefing.

He added that these claims are “laughable” against what he described as the lack of global reaction to the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in September 2022.

The Nord Stream gas pipelines were destroyed by explosions in 2022, and the incident is still being investigated by German authorities.

An investigation by Nordic public broadcasters revealed increased Russian military activity near subsea cables in the region, which further brings them under suspicion.

The investigation is also closely monitoring the Chinese-flagged cargo ship, Yi Peng 3, which was in the area of one of the damaged cables. Denmark’s navy confirmed its presence near the vessel and reported tracking its movement.

When questioned about the vessel, the Chinese Foreign Office said they were unaware of the ship’s activities and denied any involvement.

NATO is working to ensure that these cables and other critical infrastructure are protected from any potential attacks or disruptions.

References: The Aviationist, Newsweek

Source: Maritime Shipping News