Russia refutes 'aggressive' encounter with US military aircraft

The Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday refuted media reports of a dangerous encounter of Russian and US aircraft over the Baltic.

"The reports of foreign media are not true, which said a Russian Su-27 allegedly flew in dangerously close proximity to a U.S. RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft in the skies over the Baltic Sea on April 14," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters.

The Russian air defense unit on duty on Thursday found over the Baltic Sea an unknown aerial target, which was heading for the Russian border in high speed, Konashenkov said.

One Su-27 multi-role fighter was sent and identified the target as a reconnaissance plane RC-135U of the U.S. Air Force, the spokesman added.

"After visual contact with the Russian Su-27, the U.S. reconnaissance plane changed its course to the opposite of the Russian border," Konashenkov said.

Earlier on Sunday, the CNN reported Russia's interception, quoting a spokesman for U.S. European Command, who said the Russian jet "performed erratic and aggressive maneuvers."

Moreover, the U.S. side said Russian Su-24 tactical bombers flew over the U.S. guided missile destroyer Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea on Monday and Tuesday.

The Russian side denied its acts were aggressive and insisted all flights were held in accordance with international law.

Source: XINHUA