A journalist from the Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet discovered from a helicopter "a Russian warship that had been off the coast of Denmark for several days with its automatic identification system turned off" (used for exchanging navigation information and preventing collisions). The vessel, according to the author, turned out to be the large landing ship (LST, Project 775) "Alexander Shabalin" of the Baltic Fleet.
Russia is behind "some kind of hybrid show of force", Ekstra Bladet emphasizes. According to the publication, the LST is located only 12 km from the island of Langeland (belonging to Denmark) in the Baltic Sea.
"Alexander Shabalin" is equipped with missile launchers, anti-aircraft guns and automatic cannons and can carry up to 10 tanks and 340 soldiers on board.
Distraction or reconnaissance?
Former analyst of the Danish Defense Intelligence Service, Jacob Kaarsbo, believes that the Russian warship may have several functions. Firstly, it could serve as a platform for transporting drones or performing reconnaissance tasks.
The LST "Alexander Shabalin" could be a little scary and show that it is not afraid to be in close proximity to Danish waters with the automatic identification system turned off.
In addition, the deployment of a Russian ship near Denmark forces its leadership to use resources for surveillance. It is possible that this is "some kind of distracting maneuver," the expert suggested.
The Danish Armed Forces were aware
The author of Ekstra Bladet emphasized that the Danish Armed Forces are aware of the location of the LST "Alexander Shabalin" near the coast of Langeland. However, the journalist has not yet received comments from the department regarding the find.
On the night of September 25, drones were spotted over several airports and military facilities in Denmark. This is the second incident in the last few days. Copenhagen links the unknown UAVs to the Russian Federation. But the Russian Embassy in Denmark stated that these are "absurd speculations."
Read also on the topic:
- Dagbladet: Russian submarine raised Norwegian, British and American P-8 Poseidon aircraft into the air
- "Unprecedented audacity": three MiG-31 fighter-interceptors of the Russian Aerospace Forces, flying over the Gulf of Finland, raised NATO aircraft into the air
- The frigate "Admiral Golovko", which crossed the English Channel, alarmed the leadership of the British fleet
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