NATO's eastern flank heats up following a series of security incidents.

Russian warship accused of firing flares at Danish helicopter.

The Danish Ministry of Defence announced on September 15 that a Russian warship fired two flares at a Danish military helicopter while it was conducting a routine photographic mission over the Baltic Sea.

"An Air Force Fennec helicopter was fired upon while conducting routine photographic work on a Russian frigate operating in international waters off Gedser," the statement said. According to the Danish military, one of the two flares flew very close to the helicopter.

"This action is completely unacceptable and could endanger human lives," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

Mr. Rasmussen said that Copenhagen had summoned the Russian ambassador to discuss the incident. Denmark has not yet released the name of the Russian warship involved.

NATO shoots down UAV that intruded into Lithuanian airspace.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on September 15 that NATO fighter jets shot down a drone after it entered Lithuanian airspace.

"The UAV that just entered Lithuanian airspace was shot down by NATO fighter jets," Nauseda wrote on social media platform X, emphasizing that NATO's readiness is crucial in the context of increased Russian military activity in the region.

According to Lithuanian national radio station LRT, initial data from the National Crisis Management Center indicates the UAV flew into Lithuania from Belarus and traveled westward. The vehicle subsequently crashed in a rural area near Lake Kaunas in central Lithuania. Lithuanian authorities are examining the wreckage to determine the type and origin of the UAV.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys thanked NATO allies, stating that the presence of allied forces contributes to protecting the airspace and strengthening the security of the Baltic states.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are all NATO members with long borders with Russia. Since Moscow launched its large-scale military operation in Ukraine in 2022, the three Baltic states have frequently warned of drone incursions into their airspace.

The latest incursion comes amid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's declaration that his country is ready to take "de-escalation steps" if Russia does the same, following US President Donald Trump's announcement that the two sides have agreed to halt attacks on each other's energy facilities. However, fighting on the ground continues. Ukrainian forces continued to carry out long-range attacks targeting Russian military targets in the Krasnodar region overnight, while Russia launched 102 drones toward Ukraine.

Tensions continue to rise on NATO's eastern flank.

The latest incidents are raising concerns on NATO's eastern flank amid ongoing tensions in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Previously, NATO had to deal with incidents of UAVs intruding into the airspace of the Baltic states. In May, a NATO fighter jet shot down a Ukrainian UAV over Estonian airspace. This was the first time since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that a NATO aircraft intercepted a foreign UAV in the skies over a Baltic nation.

Poland recently announced that its military had recovered a military UAV, believed to be Russian, from the Baltic Sea. Initial checks indicate the device is of Russian origin and likely a Gerbera type. The Polish government also announced the deployment of “air defense operations” in its airspace due to the activities of Russian jet-powered UAVs conducting attacks on Ukraine. According to Warsaw, this operation is preventative, aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of airspace, particularly in areas near potential threats.

These developments are raising concerns about the risk of military operations related to the war in Ukraine spilling over into the airspace and waters of NATO countries.