BRUSSELS. June 21 (Interfax) - The NATO aircraft which approached Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's plane over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea acted routinely, a NATO official told Interfax on Wednesday.
"Our actions were routine. Generally, when NATO aircraft intercept a plane they identify it visually, maintaining a safe distance at all times. Once complete, NATO jets break away. This is standard procedure. All our pilots behave in a safe and responsible way," the alliance's official said.
Last week, NATO noted "an unusually large number of Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea," including strategic bombers, fighters, reconnaissance, transport and other aircraft, the official said.
"As is standard practice whenever unknown aircraft approach NATO airspace, NATO and national air forces took to the sky to monitor these flights," the official said.
As for questions regarding who was onboard, they should be addressed to the Russian authorities, the official said.