On Saturday in Kaliningrad, a Russian warplane crashed while on a training exercise, killing both of the pilots.
The Su-30 lost control, nosedived, exploded as it hit the ground in the Baltic Sea exclave, and spun out of control.
It took place near to the so-called Suwalki Corridor, which is a 60-mile region between Belarus and Kaliningrad that has been nicknamed the “weakest link” in NATO.
There are worries that the Wagner mercenary group’s soldiers could be used as a pretext in the strip, which provides the only land connection between Poland and Lithuania, two other members.
‘Technical malfunction’ was likely to blame for the catastrophe, according to officials.
“The Su-30 plane went down in a deserted area.” The flight was conducted without any weapons. Local military authorities reported that the crew had died.
The Su-30 has been heavily employed by Russia during its conflict in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin has lost eight military aircraft so far this year, the most recent being the downed fighter plane.
Two Russian fighter planes crashed into the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Azov last month while conducting training flights.
Video of the collision shows witnesses exclaiming, “What a nightmare.” A plane went down.
It blew up. What a disaster, the pilots didn’t even eject.