French Officials Allege Russian Threats Against Military Pilots in Black Sea

French defense officials have raised concerns over what they describe as escalating threats from Russian forces against their military pilots. The incident, disclosed on Thursday, involves a Russian warning to shoot down a French surveillance aircraft patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea. Sébastien Lecornu, the French defense minister, revealed the confrontation during a radio interview, highlighting the aggressive behavior from Moscow amid ongoing tensions surrounding the invasion of Ukraine.

The incident, which occurred in mid-November, marked an unprecedented event for French pilots in the region, according to Colonel Pierre Gaudillière, a French military spokesman. Russian air traffic control allegedly issued the threat in English, prompting French officials to express concerns over the hostile exchange.