Washington. June 8. INTERFAX-The international air force exercise Arctic Challenge Exercise is provocative and contradicts the peaceful development of the Arctic region, the Russian Embassy in the United States said.
The diplomatic mission's message, published on Twitter, notes that the maneuvers, which also involve the US Air Force, "do not contribute to confidence-building in Europe" and "diverge from Washington's statements about the lack of alternatives to the task of ensuring the sustainable and peaceful development of the Arctic region."
As previously reported, the large multinational air force exercise Arctic Challenge Exercise 2021, conducted by Sweden, Norway and Finland, started on Monday.
In addition to the three host countries, the air forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States are also taking part in the exercises, which will last until June 18. In addition, they involve NATO long-range radar detection and control aircraft AWACS.
In total, up to 70 aircraft, including fighters, bombers, transport planes, tankers, as well as helicopters and air defense units, take part in the exercises, which are led by the Norwegian Air Force. The aircraft operate from four air bases-Bude and Erland in Norway, Luleå in Sweden and Rovaniemi in Finland.
