Russian naval exercises coincide with major NATO maneuvers

Russia’s navy conducted exercises in the Baltic Sea involving launches of unguided rockets, bombing drills and missile strikes, as large-scale North Atlantic Treaty Organisation manoeuvres were underway in the same region, according to Reuters.

The NATO drills, known as BALTOPS, began on June 4 and are scheduled to run until June 20.

They involve around 20 ships from 15 countries and approximately 6,000 personnel, making them the largest exercises in the Baltic Sea this year.

Russia held its own drills on June 8–9 in and around the Kaliningrad exclave. According to Interfax, about 10 military aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, as well as two small missile ships, took part.

Kaliningrad, situated between Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic coast, has a population of about one million people. The heavily militarised region serves as the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic Fleet.

In late May, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia has the capability to destroy any forces attempting to attack Kaliningrad. His remarks followed a statement by Lithuania’s foreign minister that NATO should demonstrate its ability to penetrate the enclave’s defences.

By Tamilla Hasanova