Russian military drills raise tensions in the Baltic Sea
Intensive Russian military exercises are currently underway in the Baltic Sea, involving 3,000 soldiers, more than 20 ships, as well as 25 aeroplanes and helicopters. The Russian Baltic Fleet has outlined the objectives of these manoeuvres.
The Russian Baltic Fleet announced on Tuesday that it is conducting exercises in the Baltic Sea. "Exercises are ongoing in the Baltic Sea with the participation of over 20 ships and other vessels, 25 aeroplanes and helicopters, and 3,000 soldiers," it was reported.
Additionally, it was indicated that these exercises are being conducted "as part of maintaining operational readiness and developing fleet actions related to the defence of base points in the Baltic Sea basin."
The communiqué also stated that the scheduled manoeuvres of the Baltic Fleet are being conducted with participation from the Northern Fleet, and with support from the Aerospace Forces and the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts.
Incident in the Baltic
On 20th May, a Russian ship from the "shadow fleet" was observed performing "suspicious manoeuvres" in the Baltic Sea, near the power cable connecting Poland and Sweden.
"Following 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 had recently been added to the shadow fleet list. It was performing suspicious manoeuvres, 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.
