Latvian military said that the NATO fighters Were raised in the air to intercept over the Baltic sea the Il-20 in the Russian air force.

The Baltic States do not have the aircraft, suitable for air patrol, for this reason, since April 2004 (after their entry into NATO) protection of airspace involved in the rotation planes of the countries of the North Atlantic community.

"Italian fighter Typhoon protection of the airspace of the Baltic NATO Were raised into the air on February 27 to intercept over the Baltic sea Il-20 air force of the Russian Federation ", - said in a Twitter Latvian army on Twitter.

Similar cases have occurred February 9 and February 13, when Typhoon fighters also flew to intercept the Il-20 air force of the Russian Federation on the Baltic sea. First 3 and 6 February fighters of the North Atlantic Commonwealth Were raised into the air in alarm once over the Baltic sea was recorded Russian military transport aircraft Il-76 and anti-submarine aircraft Il-38.

however, the Russian defense Ministry has stated many times that all the flights of aircraft of the air forces of the Russian Federation were executed and performed in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without violating the borders of other countries.

before NATO said about the activity of the Russian air force in the European airspace, for example, over the Baltic sea. Commander-in-chief of the Russian air force, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev called similar message news "ballot box stuffing" designed to divert attention from the buildup of NATO forces very close to Russia's borders.

in connection with the situation around Ukraine, NATO has adopted a number of measures that the Alliance explains the need to provide security of the participating countries. Were strengthened mission air patrol Baltic countries (in Alliance with 2004), the aircraft with radar equipment make regular flights over Poland (joined in 1999) and Romania (joined in 2004) introduced additional NATO ships in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas.

in addition, the Alliance said about the increase in the constant presence of staff, program expansion exercises, strengthening early warning systems.

sections: Politics