Alwaght- A Russian warplane has intercepted an intrusive US B-52 strategic bomber over the Baltic Sea as the American warplane was flying along the Russian border.
According to a statement by Russia's defense ministry, the country's air defense detected the aircraft on Tuesday morning at around 7:00 GMT. Thereafter, a Su-27 of the Russian Baltic Fleet was deployed in response and shadowed the American aircraft after identifying it, as the bomber was flying in neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea along the border.
After the American warplane left the airspace near Russia, the Russian fighter jet returned to its base of deployment, the statement said.
The interception comes amid NATO’s continued string of training exercises near the Russian border.
Late last month, US-led NATO military alliance started new military drills in multiple locations throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland near the Russian border.
The new military exercise dubbed Saber Strike 17 commenced just days after NATO finished its previous cycle of military exercises close to Russia’s borders. Leaders of the NATO military bloc agreed to deploy four multinational battalions to Poland as well as to Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia last July, with the declared goal of deterring potential “Russian aggression.”
Now, all four newly created battle groups will take part in the 4-week-long drills which started on May 28 and expected to end on 24th June.
Russia has frequently criticized NATO’s military buildup along its borders as a threat to national security. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed NATO for provoking a conflict with Moscow and using its “newly-declared official mission to deter Russia” as a pretext.
