Permanent Representative of Crimea Muradov called the appearance of NATO aircraft over the Black Sea an aggression. State Duma deputy from the Crimean region, reserve major general Leonid Ivlev called the appearing of NATO combat aircraft a challenge.

Previously, the Russian Su-30 took off to intercept British Air Force aircraft over Black Sea. In addition, it was reported that the American high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk “worked close to Sochi,” occasionally moving near Sevastopol.