Russian planes

[naiveandrestles]

Not scaremongering! I'm genuingely after intelligent thoughts. So please no "the world is going to end" posts.

The world is pretty shit and scary at the moment and Im prone to letting the news get to me so Ive given up reading/watching most news to save my sanity. However that means that I dont have the relevant context when I do see something.

So, to my question. Russian planes have been intercepted by NATO over Estonia. There were also reports of them flying in Polish and Romanian air space. Is this Putin testing the waters and seeing what NATO will do? Or is this not uncommon? Is there another (less worrying) explanation?

I know Ill be criticised for not keeping up to date with world affairs but I cant do anything about it so it's kind of pointless me scaring myself with news.

It does happen every now and then

Happens a lot. To the UK too

Sabre rattling. It’s Putin waving his willy.

The Russian air force would last about 10 minutes against NATO planes and weapons.

Don't forget, Ukraine destroyed about 25% of Russias long range bombers earlier this year with few cheap drones.

They like to test our response capabilities. It's normal.

This isn’t unusual, we just hear more about it now.

This is what I think.

I think they've been doing it forever, or at least since the 60s.

If anything they're hoping to provoke a reaction.

Welcome to the "theatre of war".

Thank you everyone. ❤️

They’ve been doing this for years, even before all the issues. I remember one story a few years ago, the RAF scrambled to them and they had to go supersonic over a town and people’s windows smashed etc.

A few years ago they were doing the same over Turkey, until they were shot down, and didn't do it again.
NATO has to stand it's ground now, or else it's only going to escalate.

It's a regular occurrence but it seems to be ramping up. Not so much the warplanes (that's always happened) as the GPS jamming that is regularly meaning that some airports have to use other means of navigation to land; the drones overflying German and other countries' military bases; the swarm of drones that were aimed at Poland, of which 11 or 12 were shot down; the small but regular attacks by sending letter bombs; the FSB recruitment of disaffected and criminal people in Western countries to damage and attack warehouses with aid for Ukraine. There were attacks on Starmer's old homes; there was a believable plot to assassinate the head of a major German weopons company, Rheinmetall.

Also, a very deliberate concerted social media campaign to affect politics and destabilize society.

Honestly this particular incursion isn't much on its own, but the pace and the heat is increasing.

We have to stand strong now and resist the Russian incursions, because if we show weakness they will only come back again encouraged.