Russia stages Baltic Sea naval drills during NATO war games

Russia has staged naval drills in the Baltic Sea involving missile launches and bombing exercises, as NATO carried out its largest maritime exercise in the region this year, heightening military activity across a strategically sensitive corridor in northern Europe.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its navy conducted training operations on June 8–9 near the Kaliningrad exclave, practising unguided missile launches, bombing runs and simulated missile strikes, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

The drills involved around 10 aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, alongside two small missile ships.

The exercises took place as NATO’s BALTOPS 2026 manoeuvres were under way in the same broader region. The annual exercise, which began on June 4 and runs until June 20, brings together roughly 20 vessels from 15 countries and around 6,000 personnel, making it the largest naval training operation in the Baltic Sea this year. BALTOPS 2026

The overlapping drills underscore rising military tensions in the region, where NATO members and Russia continue to expand activity amid deteriorating security relations following the war in Ukraine.

Russia has increasingly focused military operations around Kaliningrad, a heavily militarised exclave situated between Poland and Lithuania. The Baltic Sea itself remains one of Europe’s most sensitive maritime theatres, with both NATO and Russian forces regularly operating in close proximity. Baltic Sea

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in late May that Moscow had the means to “destroy any force” attempting to attack Kaliningrad, following remarks from Lithuania’s foreign minister suggesting NATO should demonstrate its ability to penetrate the exclave.

By Aghakazim Guliyev