US military aircraft spotted over the Black Sea

Russian Air Force Su-27 fighters flew on June 29, 2020 to intercept the United States Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft and the US Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135. The incident occurred over the neutral waters of the Black Sea.

The department noted that American aircraft did not violate the state border of Russia.

On the eve of the Russian Defense Ministry, it published a video dated June 26, 2020, which shows how the Russian Air Force fighter - Su-30 - escorts US Air Force aircraft over the neutral waters of the Black Sea. The Russian crew identified US aircraft as the US Navy's P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft, the RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, and the US Air Force KS-135 refueling aircraft. It is noted that all of them immediately changed the direction of flight from the Russian border. The department emphasized that the flight of the Su-30 was in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that during the week (from June 22 to June 28, 2020), 35 foreign aircraft and six drones were noticed near the borders of the Russian Federation . It is specified that the aircraft carried out intelligence activities. The ministry added that the Russian fighters of the air defense duty forces took to the air for interception 19 times, and there were no violations of the border.

Earlier, NEWS.ru reported that the British Air Force fighters flew twice to the Baltic Sea region from their bases in Lithuania twice over the past week to intercept Russian aircraft. On June 4, 2020, Typhoon fighters took to the air to intercept the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft and two Su-27 escort fighters.

The British Air Force fighters, based in Lithuania on a rotational basis, are part of NATO's mission to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states.