France says Russian forces threatened to shoot down aircraft patrolling the Black Sea

FAN Editor

PARIS — Russian forces threatened to shoot down French flights patrolling last month in international airspace over the Black Sea, signals of a “particularly aggressive” posture from Moscow as its invasion of Ukraine struggles to make headway, France’s defense minister said Thursday.

The minister, Sébastien Lecornu, didn’t give specific details about the French flights or aircraft involved in the threatened shootdown. But he said Russia was returning to a “particularly aggressive” posture reminiscent of the former Soviet Union’s behavior during the Cold War.

“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,” he said on RTL radio.

“The behavior of Russia in 2024 bears no relation to what we saw in 2022 and, obviously, before the aggression in Ukraine,” the minister said. “It is explained by the fact that Russia is in difficulty on the battlefield in Ukraine.”

Free America Network Articles

Leave a Reply

Next Post

Space nukes are raising tensions between Moscow and Washington. Here’s what you need to know

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin talks to students and Chelyabinsk Region industry workers at the Stankomash plant in Chelyabinsk on February 16, 2024. Alexander Ryumin | Afp | Getty Images A fresh spat between Washington and Moscow has raised alarm about […]

You May Like