Russia warns NATO: ready to defend Kaliningrad with all its arsenal, while a Tu-95 bomber crashes in eastern Russia causing six deaths

Russia, through its embassy in Belgium, has written to NATO to protest against the "adventurist and irresponsible" line which would include exercises aimed at simulating the "isolation" of the Kaliningrad exclave, which "significantly increases the risks of a direct armed conflict". Russia is ready to resort to "the entire arsenal of weapons at its disposal" to defend its territory, the statement said. NATO confirms that it has received the letter and that it has also responded, denouncing "threats" to use force by Russia and recalling the defensive nature of the Alliance.

A Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber crashed during a training flight in the Amur region in the far east of the Russian Federation, killing six crew members and injuring one. This was reported by the Ministry of Defence, cited by Tass. The plane flew without armament.