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Russian Reconnaissance Activity Observed Near NATO Exercises in Lithuania
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A Russian reconnaissance aircraft was detected monitoring NATO's “Iron Wolf” military exercises in Lithuania last week, underscoring persistent security threats from Moscow, according to Carsten Breuer, Inspector General of the German Bundeswehr.
As reported by Spiegel on May 16, the aircraft entered Belarusian airspace and appeared to focus its attention on the multinational NATO exercises, which involved German forces alongside other allied contingents. In response to the potential intelligence-gathering attempt, NATO units promptly switched to encrypted communications.
General Breuer, who was present during the drills, described the incident as a clear indication of the continuing threat to regional security, particularly for Lithuania and other Eastern European NATO members.
The report also notes that, days prior to the incident, Russian forces likely employed a standard unmanned aerial vehicle to monitor a separate NATO exercise involving German helicopters, further illustrating Moscow’s ongoing surveillance activities near the Alliance’s eastern flank.
Earlier, Russia had issued a warning to “neutralize” NATO activities it deems hostile, as the alliance begins a series of large-scale military exercises in Lithuania. The statement came as NATO launches Strong Shield 5, a multinational training exercise taking place from May 12 to 18 in Lithuania’s Panevėžys district, near the border with Latvia.
