Key facts
- French warplanes intercepted Russian aircraft 11 times over the Baltic region in the past week.
- The Russian aircraft included armed fighter jets, intelligence, and transport planes.
- Russian aircraft did not file flight plans or maintain radio contact.
- These incidents are part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission.
- French officials described the high number of interceptions as 'provocations'.
Over the past week, French warplanes were scrambled 11 times to intercept Russian military aircraft in the Baltic region as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission. French armed forces spokesperson Guillaume Vernet described the unusually high number of interceptions as 'provocations,' suggesting it could signal Russia seeking to assert itself. The Russian aircraft involved included armed fighter jets, intelligence planes, and transport planes. These encounters occurred without the Russian aircraft filing flight plans or establishing radio contact, raising concerns about airspace security and adherence to international protocols. The incidents follow other cases of military drones straying into the airspace of Baltic states and Finland.