UPDATE 6:20 – NATO has commenced large-scale exercises in the Baltic Sea, named Northern Coasts, representing an opportune display of force against Russia, an aggressive country, as reported by UkraNews and cited by Rador.
A total of 14 countries, including air, naval, and ground forces, with a combined total of 3,000 troops, are participating in the exercises, alongside up to 30 ships and 15 aircraft. The operations will mainly cover the coastal waters of Latvia and Estonia, involving the practice of allied troop transfers in the Baltic Sea and amphibious landings in case of war.
This marks the first test of defense strategies in the Baltic Sea. Additionally, the USS Mesa Verde, a large amphibious assault ship from the United States capable of accommodating 800 soldiers and equipment, will participate in the Northern Coasts exercises for the first time.
UPDATE 5:10 – Russia announced on Monday that it had shot down two Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region, along the border with Ukraine, without causing any casualties, as reported by AFP. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Telegram that “the active air defense systems destroyed two aerial drones above the territory of the Belgorod region” at around 01:20 Moscow time (22:20 GMT on Sunday).
