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Latvia spots Russian war plane over Baltic neutral waters

Earlier, Latvia’s Defense Ministry reported Russian aircraft and vessels approached the republic’s borders over 250 times

RIGA, May 11. /TASS/. Latvia’s Armed Forces have registered a flight of Russia’s combat plane near Latvia’s air space on Monday.

"Patrol planes above the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea near the Latvian outer sea border today have identified a plane of Russian Air Forces - Antonov An-22," the Latvian Armed Forces said in a statement.

Earlier, Latvia’s Defense Ministry reported larger activities of Russian vessels and aircraft close to the country’s border. The authority claimed Russian aircraft and vessels approached the republic’s borders over 250 times.

In late January, Russia’s ambassador was called to the UK’s Foreign Office to explain flights of the Russian aircraft above the English Channel in the international space near the territory of the UK. The Russian Defense Ministry said then "all flights of the Air Forces have been made in strict compliance with international law on use of air space above neutral waters and without having crossed borders of other countries."

On March 17, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said: "We have calculated that around Russia remain the total of 400 military bases and objects of the US and NATO’s other countries. Even in Afghanistan, from where the international security forces have been removed, still remain the US military bases. Practically every day the US RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft are making flights near Russian borders. In 2014, they made 137 flights against 22 flights in 2013."