Russian military drills intensify tension in Baltic region
Intensive Russian military exercises are ongoing in the Baltic Sea, involving 3,000 soldiers, more than 20 ships, and 25 airplanes and helicopters. The Russian Baltic Fleet outlined the objectives of the maneuvers.
The Russian Baltic Fleet announced on Tuesday that it is conducting maneuvers in the Baltic Sea. "Exercises are ongoing in the Baltic Sea with the participation of over 20 ships and other vessels, 25 airplanes and helicopters, and 3,000 soldiers," it was reported.
Additionally, it was indicated that the exercises are conducted "as part of maintaining operational readiness and developing fleet actions related to the defense of base points in the Baltic Sea basin."
The communiqué also stated that the scheduled maneuvers of the Baltic Fleet are being conducted with the participation of the Northern Fleet, with support from the Aerospace Forces and the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts.
Incident in the Baltic
On May 20, a Russian ship from the "shadow fleet" was performing "suspicious maneuvers" in the Baltic Sea near the power cable connecting Poland and Sweden.
"After the effective intervention of our military, the ship sailed to one of the Russian ports. ORP 'Heweliusz' is heading to the scene of the incident," informed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on the X portal.
- Yesterday we experienced a situation where, after a report and reconnaissance, we observed a tanker that was recently added to the shadow fleet list. It was performing suspicious maneuvers, not in Polish territorial waters, but over the power cables belonging to PSE - relayed Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
