Moreover, on the sea, the Armed Forces identified the Russian 'Merkuri', which appeared to have been towing a search and rescue vessel 7.2 nautical miles off Latvian territorials waters.
Air Policing jets on 28 JUL in international airspace above the Baltic Sea near LV border identified RU AF 2x An-124, 1x Il-76.
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) 28 июля 2015
LVA Armed Forces on 28 JUL in LVA EEZ 7,2nm from territ. waters spotted RU ship Merkury towing SAR ship.
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) 28 июля 2015
Earlier this month, the US guided missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham paid a brief visit to Riga, taking part in what the US Navy calls a passing exercise, or PASSEX, along with the Latvian Navy patrol craft Jelgava. Last month, NATO forces held a series of large-scale military exercises known as Saber Strike 2015 near Russia's borders in Poland and the Baltic states. Amid the exercises, the NBS counted over a dozen naval and air units sailing and flying around their borders within the space of 48 hours.
