A Russian warship has opened fire on a German military helicopter while flying over the Baltic sea, according to the German foreign minister.

Initially, the Russian crew fired warning shots near the Nato reconnaissance aircraft, which was conducting standard patrols in the area.

While signal ammunition - which was used - is generally deployed as a warning rather than a direct attack, reports have suggested that the event indicates an escalation in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

In particular, it has been reported that it signals a "growing proximity" between Nato and Russia which could bring the two bodies closer to a "direct clash", according to The Sun.

Originally, the helicopter was sent to fly above the Baltic Sea as the area increases its patrols.

The type of ammunition that was fired is usually used for emergency situations.

A German defence ministry spokesperson would not confirm the reports from Wednesday regarding the incident between a Russian warship and a German chopper in the sea.

However, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock is said to have mentioned the clash during a NATO meeting which took place in Brussels.

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The minister did not offer up any further information on the event, according to German paper Bild.

Still, Baerbock said that Nato would increase the amount of monitoring and protection of critical infrastructure following media reports that the Kremlin was spreading its attacks in the Baltic Sea.

She shared online: "Putin is attacking our peace order with hybrid attacks."

She disclosed that Russian warships sail via the Baltic Sea in an effort to bypass sanctions that have been enforced on the nation since the start of the Ukraine war.