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Brussels (dpa/CHATNEWSTV) – The crew of a Russian vessel in the Baltic Sea fired signal ammunition at a German military helicopter during a reconnaissance mission, sources told dpa on Wednesday.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock briefly acknowledged the incident during a NATO meeting in Brussels but did not specify when it occurred or provide further details.
“There are often ships in the Baltic Sea that are involved in circumventing sanctions imposed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Baerbock remarked.
The use of signal ammunition, such as flares, is generally restricted to emergency situations. The incident highlights increasing tensions in the region amid NATO discussions on Ukraine’s defense and Russia’s hybrid attacks against alliance members.
Baerbock pointed to recent examples of hostile acts, including the destruction of undersea cables and the disruption of GPS systems. These activities are considered hybrid attacks — covert or ambiguous acts by state or non-state actors meant to cause harm without triggering open warfare.
To counter such threats, NATO allies are stepping up surveillance of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, Baerbock said. Enhanced patrols aim to protect vital pipelines and data cables.
The Baltic region has experienced multiple incidents targeting undersea infrastructure in recent months.
In November, two fibre-optic cables — one linking Sweden and Lithuania, the other connecting Finland and Germany — sustained damage under unclear circumstances.
Last year, a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was also severely damaged.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
