17 sorties and advanced reconnaissance planes: What was Britain looking for on Russia's border?

The British Royal Air Force conducted 17 intelligence sorties in October around Kaliningrad and along NATO borders, using Rivet Joint aircraft. A security source described this as unusual. Meanwhile, Russia demanded that Finland withdraw from NATO – a demand that was flatly rejected.

The British Royal Air Force conducted 17 intelligence sorties during October around the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and along NATO borders with Russia and Belarus, using two advanced Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft. This was revealed over the weekend by the British newspaper 'Daily Mail', based on flight data analysis. A senior security source described the scale of the activity as 'very unusual', and experts estimate that the aircraft were sent to gather information on new Russian military systems, including a giant radar being built in the area. Meanwhile, the German 'Bild' reported that Russia raised a demand in talks in Abu Dhabi for Finland to withdraw from NATO, along with other demands. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen responded sharply, saying Finland's membership in the alliance is not negotiable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned against attempts to change security arrangements in Europe, stating they 'could be dangerous'.