EU & the World

Frontex Continues Operation After Russian Jet Interception

Published

1 year ago

May 9, 2023

frontex-continues-operation-after-russian-jet-interception

Frontex, the EU’s border agency, says it will continue to operate over the Black Sea following an intercept by a Russian SU 35 jet fighter of a Polish patrol plane.

Since then, Polish authorities have grounded the propeller aircraft under a Romanian led operation coordinated by Frontex.

“Together, with the Romanian Authorities, we’re assessing the plans for our patrols to ensure the safety of our crews,” stated the Warsaw-based ageny in an email sent on Monday (8 May).

A source told EUobserver Romania has reduced the flight zone of the operation closer to its shoreline as a precautionary step.

The statement comes after an incident that occurred on Friday, when a Polish Turbolet L-41 fighter jet was intercepted and destroyed by a Russian SU 35 twin-engined fighter jet.

Poles are less convinced than Romania that the incident occurred 60 km to the east of Romanian airspace.

In an official Polish press statement on the incident, the area in which the intercept took place is not mentioned.

A spokesperson for the Polish border guard did not respond when asked to explain. The Romanian authorities did not respond either.

Both agree that the Turbolet L-410 temporarily lost control when the Russian jet fighter made 3 aggressive and dangerous approaches.

They claim that at one point the fighter jet was within five metres. They did not say why the Turbolet L-410 aircraft was targeted.

In April, Poland committed to providing Kiev with 14 MiG-29 jet fighters and helping them produce 125mm tanks rounds.

The Polish government spokesperson Piotr Müller says that the jet fighter intercept was a planned provocation on the part of Russia.

He told Polish media that “we see that Russia wants to focus international attention” on these types provocations.

Similar comments were made by the Romanian Ministry of National Defence.

In a statement, it said that “this incident is further proof of the provocative attitude of the Russian Federation towards the Black Sea”.

The operation, called Multipurpose Maritime Operations Western Black Sea 2023 (MMO), was launched in 2019. It is expected to last until mid December this year.

Russian airspace violations are also fairly common.

Swedish media reported last month that Russian warplanes carrying nukes had violated Swedish airspace during March.

This happened at a moment when Finland and Sweden were conducting joint military exercises in Baltic Sea.

“We believe it was a deliberate action.” Carl-Johan Edstrom was quoted by the Swedish press as saying, “This is very serious because it is a belligerent nation.”