Russian Ship Fires Warning Shots at German Helicopter Amid Baltic Sea Tensions

[Social Media]

 

Tensions in the Baltic Sea region escalated after a Russian vessel fired signaling ammunition at a German Bundeswehr helicopter conducting a reconnaissance mission, as reported by German press. The incident highlights the growing strain between NATO countries and Russia amidst heightened concerns about hybrid threats in the area.  

 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock acknowledged the incident on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels but refrained from providing further specifics. However, she emphasized the need for increased surveillance of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including pipelines and data cables, which she said were under rising threat from Russia and its allies. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Baerbock stated, “Putin is attacking our peace order with hybrid attacks.” She pointed out that signaling ammunition should only be used in emergency situations, underscoring the provocative nature of the Russian crew's actions.  

 

The incident adds to a series of alarming events in the region. Last month, two separate communication cables connecting Finland and Germany, and Sweden and Lithuania, were severed in quick succession, prompting suspicions of sabotage. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius labeled the severing of the Germany-Finland cable as an act of sabotage and implicated "hybrid actors," though the specific motive remains unclear.

 

The damaged cables have drawn the attention of investigators in Sweden, Germany, and Lithuania, who are exploring the role of the Chinese vessel *Yi Peng 3,* which was reportedly in proximity to the affected areas at the time. While the investigations continue, concerns are mounting over the vulnerability of essential infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.  

 

The growing unease comes against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has been accompanied by accusations of Moscow employing hybrid warfare tactics against Western nations. Hybrid warfare encompasses a broad range of destabilizing activities, such as cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and infrastructure sabotage. While Moscow has consistently denied involvement in such operations, NATO member states, including several European governments, have pointed fingers at the Kremlin for its alleged role in these covert attacks.  

 

Baerbock’s call for enhanced vigilance in the Baltic Sea underscores the seriousness of the situation. The region has become a focal point for geopolitical tensions, with critical undersea infrastructure increasingly seen as potential targets in the ongoing struggle for influence.  

As these events unfold, the Baltic Sea remains a flashpoint in the broader standoff between NATO and Russia, with incidents like the one involving the German helicopter serving as stark reminders of the region’s precarious security landscape.

 

Based on a report by Euro News 2024-12-07

 

 

 

[nobodysfriend]

Years of negligence degraded european armies .

Now they see how easily a war can break out with just one totalitarian leader going nuts ...

Trump is not a fan of Nato and there is a strong possibility that he will end americas membership and stop to pay .

Panic - everybody is scared about the russians , especially when Putin rattles with his Nukes ...

Europeans need to invest much much more in their defense , if they want or not .

[JimHuaHin]

Putin itching for WWIII?

[Chomper Higgot]

13 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Years of negligence degraded european armies .

Now they see how easily a war can break out with just one totalitarian leader going nuts ...

Trump is not a fan of Nato and there is a strong possibility that he will end americas membership and stop to pay .

Panic - everybody is scared about the russians , especially when Putin rattles with his Nukes ...

Europeans need to invest much much more in their defense , if they want or not .

There is evidence of one military having suffered years of negligence and degradation and it’s not European.

[daveAustin]

It’ll be an incident like this that will kick it off. 
And Trump won’t be pulling out of NATO lol. The US gains a massive amount from Europe from being part of it. He just doesn’t know the full story or is winding people up. 

[impulse]

10 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

Putin itching for WWIII?

 

Or is Germany and the EU?  If I had to bet, it wouldn't be on Putin.

 

But this is how it's gonna start.  They'll make it look like an accident.  A misunderstanding.

 

[Tug]

I suspect Putin will be much more aggressive after j20 when his asset assumes the presidency….we shall see im afraid.

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Tensions in the Baltic Sea region escalated after a Russian vessel fired signaling ammunition at a German Bundeswehr helicopter conducting a reconnaissance mission, as reported by German press. The incident highlights the growing strain between NATO countries and Russia amidst heightened concerns about hybrid threats in the area.  

 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock acknowledged the incident on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels but refrained from providing further specifics. However, she emphasized the need for increased surveillance of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including pipelines and data cables, which she said were under rising threat from Russia and its allies. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Baerbock stated, “Putin is attacking our peace order with hybrid attacks.” She pointed out that signaling ammunition should only be used in emergency situations, underscoring the provocative nature of the Russian crew's actions.  

 

 

The incident adds to a series of alarming events in the region. Last month, two separate communication cables connecting Finland and Germany, and Sweden and Lithuania, were severed in quick succession, prompting suspicions of sabotage. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius labeled the severing of the Germany-Finland cable as an act of sabotage and implicated "hybrid actors," though the specific motive remains unclear.

 

The damaged cables have drawn the attention of investigators in Sweden, Germany, and Lithuania, who are exploring the role of the Chinese vessel *Yi Peng 3,* which was reportedly in proximity to the affected areas at the time. While the investigations continue, concerns are mounting over the vulnerability of essential infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.  

 

The growing unease comes against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has been accompanied by accusations of Moscow employing hybrid warfare tactics against Western nations. Hybrid warfare encompasses a broad range of destabilizing activities, such as cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and infrastructure sabotage. While Moscow has consistently denied involvement in such operations, NATO member states, including several European governments, have pointed fingers at the Kremlin for its alleged role in these covert attacks.  

 

Baerbock’s call for enhanced vigilance in the Baltic Sea underscores the seriousness of the situation. The region has become a focal point for geopolitical tensions, with critical undersea infrastructure increasingly seen as potential targets in the ongoing struggle for influence.  

As these events unfold, the Baltic Sea remains a flashpoint in the broader standoff between NATO and Russia, with incidents like the one involving the German helicopter serving as stark reminders of the region’s precarious security landscape.

 

Based on a report by Euro News 2024-12-07

 

 

 

The incident was a bit different: the heli pilot saw something which was looking like signaling ammunition fired in direction of this heli. There is no real evidence yet. Also the heli was not as near to the Russian tanker.

[john donson]

false flag comes to mind...

[fvw53]

On 12/7/2024 at 7:51 AM, impulse said:

 

Or is Germany and the EU?  If I had to bet, it wouldn't be on Putin.

 

But this is how it's gonna start.  They'll make it look like an accident.  A misunderstanding.

 

1. Germany is a democracy and therefore unable to launch an attack, only rubber stamp parliaments in autocracies vote to got to war.

2. the EU is a purely economic association with "no", repeat "no", military decision making

3. the NATO is a military alliance which is purely "defensive", repeat "defensive" and needs the vote of every member state for every important decision. Some NATO member states (such as the US and the UK) attacked Iraq but other member states (such as France and Germany) refused to join because it was an  "attack" and not a "defense"

[billd766]

On 12/7/2024 at 9:24 AM, john donson said:

false flag comes to mind...

A False flag might come to your mind, but not to everybody's mind. 

[impulse]

16 minutes ago, fvw53 said:

1. Germany is a democracy and therefore unable to launch an attack, only rubber stamp parliaments in autocracies vote to got to war.

2. the EU is a purely economic association with "no", repeat "no", military decision making

3. the NATO is a military alliance which is purely "defensive", repeat "defensive" and needs the vote of every member state for every important decision. Some NATO member states (such as the US and the UK) attacked Iraq but other member states (such as France and Germany) refused to join because it was an  "attack" and not a "defense"

 

That's how it's supposed to work, but in the OP, a German helicopter got too close to a Russkie warship and the Russkies fired warning shots to back them off.

 

You and I won't know what really happened (or where) because they'll prosecute any whistleblower who releases the classified information that shows who was where and did what.

 

That is way too much risk of a misjudgment that could "accidentally" turn into a hot war.  It'll look like "defense", but it's really poking the bear to elicit the response that will make the warmongers and their companies richer.

 

Edit:  TBH, I'm thankful we got through the 2024 election without someone triggering Armageddon to get the votes to stay in power.

 

[frank83628]

Hybrid warfare by Russia,  but totally ignore the fact the US took out the NORD pipelines in an act of international terrorism 

[jchfriis]

16 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Hybrid warfare by Russia,  but totally ignore the fact the US took out the NORD pipelines in an act of international terrorism 

I suggest you read a more balanced article before stating so-called facts:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvyz1472rpo

 

 

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, jchfriis said:

I suggest you read a more balanced article before stating so-called facts:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvyz1472rpo

 

 

Yeah right, a diving instructor, haha. Despite Biden repeatedly saying they'd put an end to it.