Russia unexpectedly flew military aircraft
into the Baltic Sea region on both Saturday and Sunday, in an action closely
monitored by U.S. and NATO intelligence, West wants a regime
change
About a dozen Russian aircraft including
bombers, and refueling aircraft flew off Kaliningrad in the Baltic Sea on
Saturday. NATO aircraft as well as aircraft from Sweden and Finland monitored
the Russian flights, the official said.
Then on Sunday, the Russians again flew about
a dozen aircraft including bombers and transport planes on the same route. The
U.S. official noted there have been similar large flights in the past, but it's
not been seen in this manner over a two day period. The U.S. and NATO are still
assessing what message Moscow may be trying to send, but overall "it's a
Putin show of force," the US official said.utin takes aim
at West in defiant speech
"This was a large incursion," said Col.
Steven Warren, Pentagon spokesman. The Russian aircraft remained in
international airspace but did enter an aircraft identification zone at one
point.
On Saturday, prior to the second round of
flights, Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby issued a statement
saying, the Saturday flights were "significant." Kirby said the
Saturday flight was larger than what they've seen before but not considered
threatening. "The overflight is doing nothing to ease tensions. But while
it is bigger than what we've seen, it is not raising alarm bells in NATO,"
Kirby said.
Culled from CNN.
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