Since the beginning of 2021, the alliance's aviation has performed more than 560 flights over the sea, Nikolai Gostev noted
ROSTOV-ON-DON, August 12. /TASS/. This year, the NATO reconnaissance aircraft has almost tripled the intensity of flights in the airspace over the Black Sea. This was stated on Thursday in an interview with the newspaper "Military Bulletin of the South of Russia" by the commander of the 4th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Southern Military District (SE) Nikolai Gostev.
"The NATO countries have recently shown a genuine interest in the southern borders of Russia. Compared to last year, the intensity of flights of NATO reconnaissance aircraft in the Black Sea has almost tripled. For comparison: in 2019, the aviation of our Western "partners" in the Southern zone of Responsibility performed 270 reconnaissance flights, in 2020 - about 530, and since the beginning of this year more than 560, " the publication quoted Gostev.
The commander added that French aircraft, as well as tactical aircraft of the united armed forces of NATO, joined the reconnaissance aircraft and drones of the United States.
"More than one of their flights does not go unnoticed, the air defense means of the association monitor such flights around the clock, we respond to them in a timely manner, strictly observing international legal norms," the commander noted. According to Gostev, the army fighters on duty for air defense have been raised 15 times since the beginning of this year to identify and escort foreign aircraft.
