Russia's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it had scrambled a fighter jet to "prevent a violation of the Russian state border" by three French aircraft over the Black Sea.
Such incidents have regularly occurred, even before Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022.
"To prevent a violation of the Russian state border, a Su-27 fighter aircraft was raised into the air," Russia's Defense Ministry said.
The crew identified an "E-3F long-range radar aircraft and two Rafale-S multirole fighters belonging to the French air force" over the Black Sea.
As the Russian fighters approached, "the foreign military aircraft performed a U-turn away from the borders of the Russian Federation," it added.
There was no recorded breach of the border, according to the ministry statement.
This is the latest in a string of similar incidents over the Black Sea.
In March 2023 tensions grew between Moscow and Washington when a U.S. Reaper drone crashed after colliding with a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
