NATO reconnaissance aircraft spotted the Russian nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) and several large anti-submarine ships in the area of NATO military exercises held in northern Norway. The appearance of a Russian nuclear missile cruiser and a group of warships came as a big surprise.
The photos taken by Norwegian P-3C Orion patrol reconnaissance aircraft show the Russian nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky and, presumably, the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk, currently north of Norway, heading west.
The purpose, for which the group of the Russian warships appeared in this region remains unknown. It is believed, though, that the reason for this manoeuvre could be large-scale exercises that NATO is holding just a few hundred kilometers from the Russian borders. According to the alliance, as many as 50 warships take part in the exercises.
It should be noted that NATO has not conducted any provocative actions yet, but specialists believe that the alliance may decide to arrange them as long as Russian warships appear in the area of the military exercises.