Russia threatened to shoot down French jets patrolling Black Sea, French defense minister reports
Russia threatened to shoot down French planes patrolling the Black Sea in January, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Feb. 22, the Associated Press reports.
Lecornu did not provide details about the French flights or the planes that were threatened with being shot down.
Russia is returning to a "particularly aggressive" posture reminiscent of the Soviet Union's behavior during the Cold War, the official said.
"A month ago, to give you a very concrete example, a Russian air traffic control system threatened to shoot down French aircraft in the Black Sea when we were in a free international zone where we patrol," said the French defense chief.
Russia's behavior in 2024 "bears no relation to what we saw in 2022 and, obviously, before the aggression in Ukraine," Lecornu stated, adding that Russia is in a difficult position on the battlefield.
French pilots regularly patrol NATO's eastern flank as part of the Alliance's efforts to strengthen its defenses after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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