A Russian warship recently fired at a German army helicopter over the Baltic Sea, sparking concerns of a broader conflict. The crew of the Russian vessel used signal ammunition during the incident, which occurred while the German Bundeswehr helicopter was conducting a reconnaissance mission.
This event comes at a time of escalating tensions between Russia and NATO countries, following Ukraine’s use of UK and US missiles to strike Russian targets. Russian President Vladimir Putin has since declared that both the UK and US are now “directly involved” in the conflict, heightening the threat of further military escalation.
Germany has spent the past year reorganizing its military forces to ensure readiness for potential conflict. According to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, this includes the establishment of a new cyber and information branch, alongside the traditional military divisions of the army, navy, and air force.
Signal ammunition, typically reserved for emergency situations, was used in this incident, underlining the seriousness of the encounter. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who confirmed the incident at a NATO conference, refrained from specifying the exact date but noted that many Russian vessels in the Baltic Sea have been involved in efforts to bypass sanctions. She also highlighted increased security measures around undersea pipelines and data cables, following recent attacks on regional infrastructure.
Last month, two fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged, including one connecting Sweden to Lithuania and another between Finland and Germany. Investigations have focused on a Chinese vessel, Yi Peng 3, which was in the area around the same time. Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, called for clarity from China regarding the incident. A similar attack last year damaged a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia.
Additionally, Russia has been accused of interfering with GPS signals in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and eastern Mediterranean. In March, a British RAF plane carrying Defence Secretary Grant Shapps experienced GPS disruption while flying near Russian territory.
