Russian warship 'fires at' German helicopter: NATO reconnaissance aircraft incident over Baltic Sea sparks new conflict escalation fears

A Russian warship has fired warning shots at a German helicopter carrying out patrols over the Baltic Sea, it has been reported. 

The crew of the Russian ship fired signal ammunition, the German Press Agency in Brussels has learned. 

According to the German newspaper Bild, the warning shots were fired at the NATO reconnaissance aircraft but this is yet to be confirmed.

Signal ammunition is typically utilized as a means of issuing warning shots rather than launching an attack. However, this particular incident serves as an indication of the increasingly closer proximity between NATO and Russia, potentially leading to a direct confrontation.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock mentioned the incident at a NATO meeting but did not give further details. 

However, a spokesperson for the German ministry of defence has so far been unable to confirm the reports of signal ammunition being fired. 

Recent events have witnessed a notable escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine within the last couple of weeks. The UK and US have both granted authorization for Kyiv to engage in firing western-manufactured missiles across the border.

Former Russian president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev even declared late last month that NATO and the US is at ‘full war’ with Russia. 

A Russian warship has fired warning shots at a German helicopter carrying out patrols over the Baltic Sea (file photo)

A Russian warship has fired warning shots at a German helicopter carrying out patrols over the Baltic Sea (file photo)

NATO is currently carrying out increased surveillance in the Baltic Sea to prevent hybrid attacks on pipelines and data cables by Russia and its supporters (pictured Vladimir Putin)

NATO is currently engaged in heightened surveillance activities in the Baltic Sea region. The objective is to thwart potential hybrid attacks targeting pipelines and data cables orchestrated by Russia and its allies, a move necessitated by the escalating tensions in the area (depicted: Vladimir Putin).

NATO is currently carrying out increased surveillance in the Baltic Sea to prevent hybrid attacks on pipelines and data cables by Russia and its supporters.

The Baltic Sea is bordered by eight NATO countries and Russia.

There have been at least three incidents of possible sabotage to the 40-odd telecommunication cables and critical gas pipelines that run along its relatively shallow seabed since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.

‘NATO is stepping up patrols,…allies are investing in innovative technologies that can help better secure these assets,’ Commander Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesperson for NATO’s Allied Maritime Command previously said. 

Yet the ease with which a ship’s anchor can slice through a cable, coupled with the often-treacherous sea conditions, makes actual prevention of such attacks almost impossible.

The firing of warning shots today comes former Russian president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev declared that the he West crossed ‘all red lines’ and is now ‘at war with Russia’. 

Medvedev, a close Putin ally who now serves as the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said that every Ukrainian strike on Russian territory with Western weapons would be met with a response.

The crew of the Russian ship fired signal ammunition at the helicopter that was on a reconnaissance mission, according to the German newspaper Bild (file photo)

The crew of the Russian ship fired signal ammunition at the helicopter that was on a reconnaissance mission, according to the German newspaper Bild (file photo)

Germany's Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock speaks during a press briefing after meeting China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing

Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock speaks during a press briefing after meeting China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing

‘It’s not going to go unnoticed… It will change the rules of engagement – it’s proof that NATO and Washington and other participants in the alliance are not just participating in a hybrid war, but a war in every sense of the word against our country.

‘Negotiations are a long way off, events like this could push those negotiations back even further,’ he told Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya.

‘Any strikes on Russia are unequivocally unacceptable. What happened was a crossing of all red lines.’

It comes as the ex-chief of MI6 admitted Britain must ‘face up to the fact’ the Kremlin feels it is fighting a war with the West, rather than just Ukraine.

Sir Richard Dearlove, who led Britain’s secret intelligence service from 1999 – 2004, told Sky News this week: ‘(Polish Prime Minister) Donald Tusk has referred to it as a pre-war situation. I think he’s wrong. I think it’s an actual war.’

He went on to justify his statement by referring to examples of Russian hybrid warfare on countries across Europe involving sabotage plots, cyber-attacks and ‘very aggressive moves’.

Meanwhile in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kyiv’s army is registering sky-high rates of desertions as Russian forces continue to grind westward. 

Prosecutors opened up 60,000 cases in the first 10 months of this year against soldiers found to have deserted their posts – almost double as many cases initiated across all of 2022 and 2023 combined, the Financial Times reported. 

In an effort to stem the flow, Ukraine has upped its recruitment efforts, setting a bold target of signing up another 160,000 men to support war-weary frontline units in the next three months.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now a senior Kremlin security official, pictured with Vladimir Putin

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now a senior Kremlin security official, pictured with Vladimir Putin

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk, northwestern Russia

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia’s nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk, northwestern Russia

Residents stand next to their house damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, on the outskirts of Odesa, Ukraine November 28, 2024

Residents stand next to their house damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, on the outskirts of Odesa, Ukraine November 28, 2024

The shocking rates of desertion were revealed as Vladimir Putin’s forces move inexorably further into Ukraine, aiming to seize as much territory as possible ahead of Donald Trump‘s imminent return to the White House with both sides expecting Washington to push for ceasefire talks early next year.

Although their ranks are suffering heavy casualties, the Russian army is advancing at a rate faster than at any other time after the initial days of the 2022 invasion, taking an area half the size of London in November.

The bleak circumstances led Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s wartime foreign minister until he resigned in September, to declare that Kyiv ‘will lose the war’ unless a major reversal of fortunes can be realised.

The incident today is also the latest in a number of close calls between Russian and NATO forces. 

In September a Russian aircraft came dangerously close to a U.S. fighter jet sent to intercept them off the coast of Alaska.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked four Russian military aircrafts operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on September 23.

NORAD scrambled four F-16s fighters and a reconnaissance aircraft to escort the Russian formation through the zone, a spokesperson told Alaska Public Media.

Video of the interaction shows one Russian jet soaring past an American aircraft, quickly banking left and right.

‘The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force,’ said Gen. Gregory Guillot.

Meanwhile in March last year, a Russian fighter jet crashed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea.

Drone camera footage shows the terrifying confrontation as an Su-27 jet approaches from behind, clips its propeller and dumps fuel over it in international airspace.

The clip was released on the back of a report that the ‘highest levels’ of the Kremlin signed off on the aggressive behavior of the jets during the intercept.

This incident marked the first direct confrontation between Russia and the US since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Biden lights 30-foot White House Christmas tree... and everyone is saying the same thing

Biden illuminates 30-foot White House Christmas tree… and everyone agrees on one thing

President Biden had a hair-raising experience as the White House’s annual Christmas tree…
DNC Finance Committee Member Blasts Harris Campaign Spending, 'Lining the Pockets of Well-Connected Dems'

Al Sharpton and MSNBC warned by National Black Church Organization about the ongoing Kamala donation scandal.

Following the election, there was a close examination of the Kamala Harris…
‘Live’: Mark Consuelos Tells Kelly Ripa He Can Count “On One Hand” How Many Times He’s Heard Her Say Sorry

Mark Consuelos tells Kelly Ripa that he can remember only a few times she has apologized.

According to Kelly Ripa, it’s “hard to be married to someone who…
SOLD! Trump Taps Auctioneer and Former MO Congressman Billy Long to Lead Key Agency

Trump Chooses Auctioneer and Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long to Head Important Agency

Keeping track of the many nomination announcements from the Trump-Vance transition team…
WATCH: 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast Host Roasts Kamala Harris Over Infamous Interview

“View the ‘Call Her Daddy’ Podcast Host Critiquing Kamala Harris for Infamous Interview”

Despite Kamala Harris largely fading from the spotlight after her defeat to…
Houston attorney Michael Howard says he killed his son in 'horrible accident' and then burned Mark's body at Texas lake house

Houston Attorney Michael Howard Says His Son’s Death Was a ‘Horrible Accident’ and Burned His Body at Texas Lake House

HOUSTON, Texas — A Houston attorney has been charged with murdering his…
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield makes major U-turn following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield changes course after the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided to cancel a planned policy…
Tiffany Henyard to attend Thornton Township meeting to hear objections for election nominations

Tiffany Henyard will be present at Thornton Township meeting to listen to objections regarding election nominations.

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (WLS) — A meeting scheduled for Friday will assess…
‘Southern Charm’ Star Leva Bonaparte Teases Major Change With Shep Rose

Leva Bonaparte from ‘Southern Charm’ hints at a significant shift involving Shep Rose

Shep Rose is turning a new leaf, according to his Southern Charm…
National Christmas Tree Lighting Interrupted by Joe Biden Being a Complete Weirdo

Joe Biden’s Odd Behavior Disrupts National Christmas Tree Lighting Event

Kamala Harris’ defeat in the 2024 election appears to have had a…
$15 million bounty: Federal authorities raise reward for capture of Jalisco New Generation cartel boss 'El Mencho'

The reward for capturing the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, ‘El Mencho,’ has been increased to $15 million by Federal authorities.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago’s most wanted fugitive, known as “El Mencho,” is…
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Barry Jenkins share the inspiration behind the new music of 'Mufasa: The Lion King' 

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Barry Jenkins reveal the creative influence for the music in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’.

LOS ANGELES — “Mufasa: The Lion King” takes us on a journey…