Report says Russia-West military encounters rising

A London-based think tank says Russian forces have been involved in dozens of close encounters with Western militaries since Moscow annexed Crimea – and that both sides risk losing control over events

Tu-95 “Bear”: Russian strategic bomber

HIGH RISK INCIDENTS
Mar 3: Near-collision between SAS airliner and Russian spyplane
Sep 5: Estonian intelligence officer seized by Russian agents
Oct 17-27: Major hunt by Sweden for suspectedRussian submarine

SERIOUS INCIDENTS
Apr 12: Unarmed Russian fighter makes 12 passes over U.S. warship
Apr 23: Russian fighter makes threatening manoeuvres close to U.S. reconnaissance plane
Jul 16: Russian aircraft intercepts Swedish surveillance plane ininternational airspace
Sep 17: Two Russian bombers intentionally violate Swedish airspace
Jul 18: U.S. surveillance plane chased into Swedish airspace after being approached by Russian fighters
Sep 19: Russian officers detain Lithuanian ship in international waters and tow it to Murmansk
Early Sep: Russian strategic bombers practice cruise missile strikes on U.S.
Oct 3: Russian fighter flies “within metres” of Swedish surveillance plane
Sep 7: Canadian frigate locks radar on unarmed Russian plane after it comes within 300m of warship
Oct 28-30: Russia conducts major air exercise in North Sea, Atlantic, Black Sea and Baltic Sea
June: Russian aircraft makes apparent simulated attack on Danish island of Bornholm

NEAR-ROUTINE INCIDENTS
Not likely to lead to escalation, butincreased number of such incidentsadd to atmosphere of tension

RUSSIA
Black Sea

NATO members
RUSSIA
SWEDEN
DENMARK
LITHUANIA
Baltic Sea
POLAND
LATVIA
ESTONIA

100km
160 miles

Sources: European Leadership Network, wire agencies