Dramatic moment NATO Top Guns intercept Russian warplanes over Baltic Sea

01 March 2024 , 17:03

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Two French Mirage 2000-5s managed to intercept a Russian SU-30-M aircraft while it was over the Baltic Sea (Image: @NATO_AIRCOM/X)

In a dramatic interception, NATO Top Guns headed off a Putin aircraft north of Poland – after they had already stopped Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea.

Two French Mirage 2000-5s managed to intercept a Russian SU-30-M aircraft while it was over the Baltic Sea yesterday. The French fighters were then immediately re-tasked onto a new mission, where they quickly took down a Russian AN-72 over international airspace to the north of Poland.

This happened after Putin threatened to nuke the West during his annual address to the nation after accusing NATO and the US of "preparing to strike" Russia. The Kremlin also claimed that on 12 February NATO had scrambled warplanes to intercept two nuclear-capable missile carriers spotted patrolling the Norwegian Sea.

The French fighters were then immediately re-tasked onto a new mission, where they quickly took down a Russian AN-72 over international airspace to the north of Poland

Russia had launched to two TU-95MS planes to patrol the Norwegian Sea, escorted by a group of Su35S aircraft. The flight, spanning five hours, also saw "fighters from foreign countries" alongside unit, but Moscow didn't share which Western airforces specifically were sent out.

A source from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told the MailOnline that the RAF had not sent out any planes in response. In terms of countries close by, the Norwegian Sea is bordered by Norway, Iceland and the Shetland Islands.

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A source from the MoD said the RAF had not sent out any planes in response

Lieutenant-General Sergei Kobylash, commander of Russian long-range aviation, said: "The flight was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace. 'Long-range aviation pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Black and Baltic Seas.'

In recent days French President Emmanuel Macron said the West hasn't "ruled out" putting boots on the ground in Ukraine. And then in Putin's address yesterday, he said: "They, NATO and America, are active in other parts of the world, of course, and they continue to lie there, to deceive.

In recent days French President Emmanuel Macron said the West hasn't 'ruled out' putting boots on the ground in Ukraine (@NATO_AIRCOM/X)

"They are preparing to strike our territory and, using the best possible forces, the most effective forces to do so. But we remember the fate of those who try to invade our territory and of course their fate will be much more tragic than anything we could face."

Putin said 'strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness for guaranteed use (@NATO_AIRCOM/X)

Putin continued: 'They have to understand that we also have weapons, weapons that can defeat them on their own territory. Of course all this is very dangerous, because it could actually trigger the use of nuclear weapons. Do they not understand that?'

Chillingly, Putin said "strategic nuclear forces are in a state of full readiness for guaranteed use" but also warned that using them would result in the "destruction of civilisation".

Lucy Skoulding