Latvia detects Russian military aircraft near its borders
On September 22, NATO fighter jets patrolling the skies over the Baltic Sea escorted a Russian AN-12 military transport aircraft flying near the borders of Latvia, the National Armed Forces of Latvia reported on Twitter.
"On September 22th, NATO patrol fighter jets detected a Russian AN-12 transport plane belonging to the Russian Armed Forces over the Baltic Sea near the borders of Latvia," the statement read.
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine and the deterioration of relations between Russia and the West, Russian warships and aircraft have been increasingly spotted near the borders of the Baltic States. In 2015, Russian military aircraft were recorded more than 270 times near the Latvian border.
The Baltic States and the United Kingdom have repeatedly stated that such incidents are attempts by Russia to demonstrate its power and to test the reaction of NATO.