MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. A second NATO reconnaissance aircraft was observed over the Black Sea today, according to a source within the European Union's air traffic control services, speaking to TASS.

The aircraft in question is a Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint, operated by the Royal Air Force. The source explained that, unlike the earlier NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance and target acquisition aircraft which flew over the region this morning, the British aircraft is currently flying over the central part of the Black Sea rather than its southern waters. He added that the aircraft is cruising from west to east and back, without entering the airspace of any coastal nations.

The aircraft departed from RAF Waddington and traversed the airspace of several EU countries before reaching the Black Sea region. According to the source, it began operating directly over the waters from a control point near the Bulgarian border.

The aircraft is maintaining an altitude of just over 10 kilometers and is not violating any civil flight corridors, the source emphasized.

Notably, the RC-135W Rivet Joint was last observed over the Black Sea on July 29. Earlier, a source told TASS that a Bombardier Artemis II, based in Constanta, Romania, circled over the area for more than two hours this morning.