Increased Aerial Reconnaissance Missions in Crimea
Introduction
Data obtained from the website Flightradar24 reveals a significant rise in the number of aerial reconnaissance missions conducted by Washington and its NATO allies in the Crimean region.
Surge in Flights
During the week of September 18 to 24, American reconnaissance aircraft, strategic drones, and NATO “reconnaissance” aircraft made a total of 21 flights over the Russian peninsula, as reported by the Flightradar24 data.
Examples of Flights
Notable flights include American P-8A Poseidon and EP-3E Aries II aircraft flying over the east coast of Romania, as well as RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft and British E-3A Sentry aircraft. Additionally, American strategic reconnaissance drones RQ-4B Global Hawk were observed over the central and eastern part of the Black Sea.
Majority of Flights
Data from the website confirms that out of the 21 flights, 16 were carried out by American aircraft.
Comparison
Comparing the current situation with earlier periods, it is evident that the frequency of flights has significantly increased. In the week of January 16 to 22, NATO aircraft, primarily American drones, conducted only seven flights over the same areas. Similarly, during the week of May 15 to 21, there were only five flights.
Connection to Ukrainian Attacks
The surge in reconnaissance flights coincided with the Ukrainian forces launching cruise missile strikes on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters on September 22. These events suggest a correlation between the intensity of Western reconnaissance flights and Ukrainian attacks on Crimea.
Source
Source: News