Tension in the Black Sea: Russians threatened to shoot down French aircraft
10:33 AM EST, February 22, 2024
Russia is firmly establishing its presence in the Black Sea, directly threatening French aircraft. France's Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, reveals details of the incident and speaks of growing aggression from Russia.
France's Minister of the Armed Forces: Russia is particularly aggressive
Speaking on RTL radio, Lecornu warned that Russia was returning to a "particularly aggressive" posture, reminiscent of the USSR's behavior during the Cold War. - Russia's behavior in 2024 bears no relation to what we saw in 2022 and, of course, before the aggression against Ukraine. This is explained by the fact that Russia is having difficulties on the battlefield in Ukraine," the minister stressed.
French Air Force pilots regularly patrol NATO's eastern flank. These operations include long-range patrols by AWACS surveillance aircraft. These machines can detect, among other things, rocket fire and air attacks.
A month ago, Russia's air traffic control system threatened to shoot down French aircraft in the Black Sea, even though we were in the international free zone where we patrol, the minister told French radio RTL.
Russian activity in the Black Sea
Reuters emphasized that Russian pilots have occasionally shown they may respond with agitation under observation, noting instances of heightened tension. In the initial year of the conflict, a Russian fighter jet launched a missile close to a British RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft within international airspace above the Black Sea. Moreover, last March, it was documented by U.S. officials that a Russian fighter jet discharged fuel over a U.S. drone, resulting in its crash into the Black Sea.
Soruce: Reuters, ABC News
