A Russian warship has fired signal ammunition at a German army helicopter over the Baltic Sea, according to the German Press Agency. The Bundeswehr helicopter, which was on a reconnaissance mission, was targeted by the Russian vessel.
This incident comes as tensions continue to rise between NATO countries and Russia, particularly following the use of UK and US missiles by Ukraine to target Russian positions. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that both the UK and the US are now "directly involved" in the conflict.
The German military has been undergoing significant reorganization in recent months, with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius emphasizing the country's preparations for potential conflict. Germany has also established a new cyber and information branch in addition to its traditional armed forces.
Signal ammunition is typically reserved for emergency situations, highlighting the seriousness of the encounter. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who confirmed the incident during a NATO conference, did not specify when the event occurred. She also noted that several Russian vessels in the Baltic Sea had been linked to efforts to circumvent international sanctions.
In response to recent attacks on regional infrastructure, including damage to undersea pipelines and data cables, Germany and other nations have increased security measures in the area. Just last month, two fibre optic cables were damaged, including one between Sweden and Lithuania and another between Finland and Germany. Investigations have focused on a Chinese vessel, the Yi Peng 3, which was in the vicinity at the time.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called for clarity from China on the matter, following a similar incident last year involving a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. Russia has also been accused of jamming GPS signals in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean. Notably, in March, a RAF plane carrying then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps experienced GPS interference while flying near Russian territory.
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