The planes flew very close to a group of military ships on routine operations (Picture: Marcom)

Nato says Russian fighter jets came within a few hundred feet of its ships in the Baltic Sea yesterday.

The close call ‘increased the risk of miscalculations, mistakes, and accidents’, the military alliance warned.

Nato vessels were ‘conducting routine operations’ when two Russian aircraft ‘made an unsafe and unprofessional approach’.

The planes came within 80 yards of the ships and were flying at an altitude of just 300 feet. 

Nato has warned it will ‘respond appropriately to any interference’ in the future amid extremely high tensions.

It comes after the world was put on red alert over fears Russian missiles had struck a Polish village earlier this week.

Any direct attack on a single member of Nato would risk dragging the entirety of the military bloc into an armed confrontation with Russia.

Western governments now believe the weapon which struck Poland was a malfunctioning Ukrainian air defence missile which was launched to repel an attack.

The Absalon-class frigate HDMS Esbern Snare of the Royal Danish Navy is part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One operation (Picture: EPA)

Kyiv has disputed this and has demanded access to the blast site, insisting publicly that Russia is to blame.

Alarmingly, the US revealed that back channel communications between Washington and Moscow – which remain open to prevent war breaking out even when relations are at rock bottom – failed in the hours after the Poland blast.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said his staff tried to arrange a call with his Russian counterpart, Valery Gerasimov.

He told reporters: ‘Some attempts were made. No success. My staff was unsuccessful in getting me linked up with General Gerasimov.’

Commenting on the Baltic Sea incident, a statement from Nato read: ‘On the morning of Nov. 17, two Russian fighter aircraft made an unsafe and unprofessional approach toward Standing Nato Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), which was conducting routine operations in the Baltic Sea.

‘The Russian pilots failed to respond to Allied forces’ standing query communications and overflew the force at an altitude of 300 feet and a distance of 80 yards.

‘Nato deemed the interaction unsafe and unprofessional since it was conducted in a known danger area, which was activated for air defence training, and due to the aircraft altitude and proximity. The interaction increased the risk of miscalculations, mistakes, and accidents.

‘Nato forces acted responsibly, fulfilling their mission, in full compliance with international air and maritime regulations. 

‘Nato will respond appropriately to any interference with Nato’s lawful activity in the area that endangers the safety of our aircraft, ships or their crews. Nato does not seek confrontation and poses no threat.’

The Kremlin has not publicly commented on the incident.

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The military alliance said the dangerous manoeuvre risked ‘miscalculations, mistakes, and accidents’.