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Russia Baltic military actions 'unprecedented' - Poland | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Poland says the level of Russian naval and air force activity in the Baltic Sea region has been "unprecedented" this week. | Poland says the level of Russian naval and air force activity in the Baltic Sea region has been "unprecedented" this week. |
Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said most of the activity was in international waters and airspace and Sweden was the country most affected. | Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said most of the activity was in international waters and airspace and Sweden was the country most affected. |
Nato partners of the Baltic states, including the UK, have military jets on an air policing mission in the region, monitoring the Russian planes. | Nato partners of the Baltic states, including the UK, have military jets on an air policing mission in the region, monitoring the Russian planes. |
Fighting in Ukraine has raised tension. | Fighting in Ukraine has raised tension. |
Mr Siemoniak said Russia was "not preparing to attack" but it was testing Nato defences, which "does not serve to build good relationships and trust". | Mr Siemoniak said Russia was "not preparing to attack" but it was testing Nato defences, which "does not serve to build good relationships and trust". |
The three small ex-Soviet states in the Baltic - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - joined Nato in 2004. | The three small ex-Soviet states in the Baltic - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - joined Nato in 2004. |
Speaking on the Polish news channel TVN24, he said there was no need to put the Polish army on a state of high alert. | Speaking on the Polish news channel TVN24, he said there was no need to put the Polish army on a state of high alert. |
Nato and Ukraine accuse Russia of fomenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine and supplying the pro-Russian rebels there with troops and heavy weapons. Russia denies the allegations, but admits that Russian "volunteers" are helping the rebels. | Nato and Ukraine accuse Russia of fomenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine and supplying the pro-Russian rebels there with troops and heavy weapons. Russia denies the allegations, but admits that Russian "volunteers" are helping the rebels. |
'Near miss' | 'Near miss' |
Several incidents have been reported in the region this week: | Several incidents have been reported in the region this week: |
The spike in activity follows a study by the London-based think tank European Leadership Network, which detailed 40 incidents over recent months, including 11 that it said were of a "more aggressive or unusually provocative nature, bringing a higher level risk of escalation". | The spike in activity follows a study by the London-based think tank European Leadership Network, which detailed 40 incidents over recent months, including 11 that it said were of a "more aggressive or unusually provocative nature, bringing a higher level risk of escalation". |
In one case, an SAS civilian airliner taking off from Copenhagen narrowly avoided colliding with a Russian reconnaissance plane. | In one case, an SAS civilian airliner taking off from Copenhagen narrowly avoided colliding with a Russian reconnaissance plane. |
Separately, Sweden conducted a massive search in October for a suspected Russian submarine in the waters near its capital Stockholm, but after a week-long hunt no submarine was found. | Separately, Sweden conducted a massive search in October for a suspected Russian submarine in the waters near its capital Stockholm, but after a week-long hunt no submarine was found. |
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