NATO aircraft were scrambled in response to Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers conducting a demonstration of power above the Baltic Sea. Video footage captured Russian Tupolev bombers, specifically engineered for nuclear weapons delivery, flying a mission over the “neutral waters” of the Baltic region.
The Russian defense ministry confirmed that the bombers were shadowed by NATO warplanes and were accompanied by Su-35S and Su-27 fighter jets from the Aerospace Forces. The total flight duration exceeded five hours, with foreign state fighters occasionally joining the formation along certain parts of the route.
In related developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin reassured that there were no plans to attack Europe, dismissing such claims as absurd. However, he reiterated his resolve to continue assertive actions in Ukraine until Kyiv cedes the territories he seeks in the Donbas region, emphasizing that Ukrainian forces must withdraw for hostilities to cease, even hinting at the use of military force if necessary.
Putin’s remarks criticizing Western leaders as either delusional or opportunistic for suggesting Russia’s potential for broader aggression beyond Ukraine coincided with his denunciation of such claims during a public appearance. He labeled the accusations as baseless and criticized the alleged fear-mongering tactics employed by certain Western authorities.
During a press conference, Putin made a geographical error by referencing a non-existent city, Komsomolsk, in Ukraine where he claimed Russian forces were making advances. It appeared that he meant to mention Kostiantynivka, a town in the conflict zone. The slip-up drew attention to potential inaccuracies in his statements regarding the ongoing military situation in Ukraine.