The Russian Navy conducted military exercises in the Baltic Sea, practicing unguided missile launches, bombings, and attacks. The exercises took place while NATO maneuvers were taking place in the region.
The NATO naval exercise BALTOPS, which began on June 4 and runs until June 20, is the largest in the Baltic Sea this year. Approximately 20 ships from 15 countries were mobilized for the maneuvers, with a total of about 6000 people involved.
Russia conducted its own exercises during the period of June 8-9, in and around its enclave Kaliningrad. Moscow involved 10 military aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, as well as two small missile ships.
Kaliningrad, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, between Lithuania and Poland, NATO member states, has a population of approximately 1 million inhabitants, reports news.ro. The area is heavily militarized and serves as the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic Fleet.
President Vladimir Putin stated at the end of May that Russia has all the necessary means to destroy any force that would try to attack Kaliningrad, after the Lithuanian foreign minister claimed that NATO should demonstrate to Moscow that it can penetrate the enclave.