Russian ship allegedly fired signal ammunition at a German helicopter on a reconnaissance mission in the Baltic Sea, according to the German newspaper the Berliner Zeitung.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reportedly mentioned the alleged incident on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels but did not provide any further details about the incident.
A German ministry spokesperson could not confirm the reports about the incident, according to Reuters.
Newsweek also reached out to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for comment via email outside of business hours.
Russia’s alleged firing of a signal ammunition at a German helicopter comes as tensions between the two countries have been increasing and Germany prepares for a possible war with Russia.
The use of signal ammunition is reportedly only common in emergency situations, and Baerbock said that Russian ships in the Baltic Sea are often attempting to evade sanctions.
The foreign minister also announced that Germany will increase the monitoring of pipelines and data cables in the Baltic Sea following reports of increased attacks from Russia and its allies.
In the last month, damage done to two sets of communication cables linking Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania in the Baltic Sea in less than a day have been cause for alarm, according to Euro News.
Germany, alongside Sweden and Lithuania, have launched investigations into the incidents and are examining how China’s vessel Yi Peng 3 figured into the damage done to the cables.
Baerbock said that the attacks on the Baltic Sea cables have caused disruptions to the global positioning system GPS, as reported by the German website 20 Minuten.
Nikolai Patrushev, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has previously accused the U.S. and the U.K. of interfering with intending to sabotage underwater internet cables.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Germany’s Foreign Office detailed Baerbock’s statements at the NATO summit and wrote, “Putin is attacking our peace order with hybrid tactics. Our societies are to be destabilized—whether through disrupted GPS channels, internet trolls, or narratives that pit pensions and child benefits against our support for Ukraine. Domestic, external, and social security are interconnected. Safeguarding peace means investing in all three areas—for the protection of our peace, freedom, and democratic stability.
“Strengthening security also means stronger cooperation in the Baltic Sea. Russia is escalating its hybrid attacks there. NATO will further enhance monitoring and protection of critical infrastructure, guided by the @nato motto: One for all, all for one.”
Germany is anticipating war with Russia and is increasing its defenses in preparation, as Bruno Kahl, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, said, “Russia is preparing for a war with the West” in November.
Germany has begun preparing plans for how Berlin would protect important buildings in the event of a Russian attack and creating a list of bomb shelters for citizens.
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