Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Fomin said that NATO provocations threaten an armed conflict
Photo: Ints Kalnins / Reuters
Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Alexander Fomin warned that deliberate provocations by NATO near the Russian borders could with a high probability threaten an armed conflict. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
Recently, the alliance has switched to the practice of direct provocations, associated with a high risk of escalating into armed confrontation.
Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia
Fomin, during a briefing for military attachés and representatives of foreign embassies accredited in Moscow, cited as a typical example the attempt of the British destroyer URO Defender on June 23, 2021, to penetrate the territorial waters of the Russian Federation near Cape Fiolent off the coast of Crimea.
It is significant that the actions of the British Navy ship were provided by the American strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135
Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia
NATO in the Black Sea zone
Fomin noted that in the Black Sea region, in comparison with 2020, the intensity of the use of reconnaissance aircraft has increased by more than 60 percent. At the same time, the number of sorties increased from 436 to 710.
In addition, the strategic bombers B-IB and B-52H of the CIIIA Air Force flew 92 times against 78 in 2020 in the airspace of the Black Sea region, going beyond the conventional line of use of weapons. “The minimum approach to the Russian border in the western part of Crimea was 15 kilometers,” Fomin said.
A ministry spokesman said that the scale and intensity of operational and combat training activities under NATO plans in the Black Sea zone are increasing. A total of 15 exercises were conducted by NATO Allied Forces in 2021, up from eight a year earlier.
Fomin also said that the presence of ships and auxiliary vessels of non-regional NATO states in the Black Sea “has actually become permanent.” So, from January to December 2021, 30 calls of NATO ships were made, in 2020 there were 23 of them. “The total duration of stay was more than 400 days, in 2020 – 359,” he said.
400 days was the total duration of stay of NATO ships
NATO expansion eastward
On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published draft agreements with NATO and Washington on security guarantees, which were transferred to the American side during the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried to Moscow.
In the documents, in particular, Moscow called on NATO members to abandon further expansion to the East and conduct any military activity on the territory of Ukraine and other states of Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia.
