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, a
U.S. official confirmed.
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.
"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.
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