Denmark says a signal flare from a Russian warship passed close to one of its military helicopters over the Baltic Sea. Russia decorated the ship’s commander.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov awarded the Medal for Distinction in Combat to the commander of the corvette Soobrazitelny after the ship’s crew fired signal flares toward a Danish military helicopter over the Baltic Sea, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.

According to the ministry, the Danish Air Force helicopter “was heading toward the Russian warship and did not respond to calls over an international communications channel.” The corvette’s commander fired two signal flares “to prevent a provocation by the Danish helicopter,” after which the helicopter “left the vicinity of the Russian warship.”

The Defense Ministry called the commander’s actions “skillful and decisive.”

On September 15, Denmark said a Russian warship had fired two signal flares toward a Danish helicopter conducting a “routine” operation to monitor the vessel in the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called Russia’s actions “reckless” and said they were intended to “intimidate and sow division.”

Danish officials said the incident occurred on Monday, September 14. Denmark’s armed forces said that “one of the flares passed close to the helicopter.” The country’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador.

The Russian Embassy in Denmark called the Danish helicopter’s actions provocative. “The Danish side’s attempts to explain the helicopter’s provocative actions toward the Russian frigate by calling them ‘routine practice’ raise serious concerns about the possible consequences of such recklessness,” the embassy said.