Russian fighter jets flew within 80 meters of NATO ships in another close combat

Russian warplanes came within a few hundred meters of their ships in the Baltic Sea yesterday, NATO said.

The close decision “increased the risk of miscalculations, mistakes and accidents,” the military alliance warned.

NATO ships were “conducting routine operations” when two Russian aircraft “made an unsafe and unprofessional approach”.

The planes came within 80 meters of the ships and flew at an altitude of only 300 feet.

NATO has warned that if it continues amid extremely high tensions, it will “respond appropriately to any interference”.

It comes after the world was on edge over fears that Russian missiles would hit a Polish village earlier this week.

Any direct attack on a single NATO member would risk sending the entire military bloc into an armed confrontation with Russia.

Western governments now believe the weapon that hit Poland was a malfunctioning Ukrainian air defense missile launched to repel an attack.

Kiev has denied this and has demanded access to the blast site, publicly insisting Russia was to blame.

Alarmingly, the US revealed that backchannel communications between Washington and Moscow — which remain open to prevent war from breaking out even when ties are at an all-time low — failed in the hours following the blast in Poland.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said his staff tried to arrange a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Valery Gerasimov.

He told reporters: “There have been some attempts. No success. My staff did not put me in touch with General Gerasimov.”

In response to the incident in the Baltic Sea, a NATO statement said: “On the morning of 17 Zee.

Unresponsive to the constant requests of the Allied forces, the Russian pilots flew over the forces at an altitude of 300 feet and a distance of 80 meters.

“NATO deemed the interaction unsafe and unprofessional because it was conducted in a known threat area activated for air defense training and because of the altitude and proximity of the aircraft. The interaction increased the risk of miscalculations, mistakes and accidents.

“NATO forces have acted responsibly and conducted their mission in full compliance with international aviation and maritime regulations.

NATO will respond appropriately to any interference with NATO’s legitimate activities in the area that threatens the safety of our aircraft, ships or their crews. NATO seeks no confrontation and poses no threat.”

The Kremlin has not publicly commented on the incident.

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