Russian frigate with hypersonic missiles spotted off German coast
Admiral Kasatonov sighted near Fehmarn Island, NATO intensifies presence near Kaliningrad with 25 aircraft in the last 48 hours.
Admiral Kasatonov sighted near Fehmarn Island, NATO intensifies presence near Kaliningrad with 25 aircraft in the last 48 hours.
The Russian frigate Admiral Kasatonov, one of the most modern ships in the Russian fleet equipped with hypersonic missiles, has appeared off the German island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea, ABC.es reported on Wednesday. The ship was sailing without its transponder activated, so it did not appear on radar.
Fehmarn Island, known for its 2,000 hours of sunshine a year and a favorite summer destination for Germans, has become the scene of military tension this summer. The Project 22350 frigate carries armament that includes hypersonic missiles with nuclear capability, long-range offensive weapons, and advanced anti-submarine warfare equipment.
This is the second Russian warship recorded in the Baltic Sea in recent weeks, following the Project 1155 destroyer Admiral Levchenko, which was registered in July 2026.
The appearance of the ship is seen as a response to British and French operations against Russia's "shadow fleet," tankers flying other countries' flags that circumvent European sanctions. The seizures of ships have drawn a sharp reaction from the Kremlin.
"We will be forced to respond in kind... Russia can respond in any area we deem necessary and appropriate," Russian President Vladimir Putin warned.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added: "We will significantly intensify our methods for destroying everything that feeds Kyiv's war machine from the West; we are already doing so."
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul dismissed Russian threats as an attempt to pressure Ukraine's international supporters.
"Given the economic and social consequences of the failed war of conquest against Ukraine, which are being felt increasingly painfully in Russia, the Kremlin is desperately trying to pressure Ukraine's international supporters with threats and disinformation," Wadephul said.
NATO has intensified its presence near Russia's Kaliningrad region over the past 48 hours with 25 aircraft maneuvering around that Russian territory. The AirNav radar service identified U.S. C-40A Clipper and EA-37B Compass Call II aircraft, the E-3A Sentry long-range radar, Polish Gulfstream G550s, Airbus A330 MRTT refueling aircraft from the Multinational Fleet, a Lithuanian Let L-410UVP helicopter, and U.S. AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters.
In the Skagerrak Strait between Norway and Denmark, a British P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft, together with a German military aircraft, intensively overflew the area. NATO's Air Command attributed the increased activity to the Alliance's ongoing efforts to enhance defense capabilities, without providing further details on the aircraft's missions.
Increased surveillance is also being recorded in the Atlantic and the English Channel due to concerns in London and Paris about possible Russian retaliation. Although there is no direct connection to Croatia, the escalation of tensions in the Baltic Sea affects the security situation in Europe and the activities of NATO, of which Croatia is a member.
