Lithuania: Two Russian fighter jets violated NATO airspace

Tensions have risen once again on Europe's eastern flank, where friction had already increased following violations of Polish, Romanian, and Estonian airspace by Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In a statement issued by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, it was reported that two Russian fighter jets entered the country's airspace near the town of Kybartai in southwestern Lithuania at approximately 18:00 local time.

The statement specified that one of the Russian aircraft violating the country's airspace was an SU-30 and the other was an IL-78 refueling aircraft, noting that they were conducting a refueling exercise over Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave located on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Poland.

The Lithuanian Air Force went on alert following the Russian aircraft's 700-meter incursion into national territory, which lasted for 18 seconds. Consequently, two Spanish Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets scrambled as part of the NATO Air Policing mission and began patrolling the area of the violation.

PROTEST NOTE FROM LITHUANIA TO RUSSIA

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the incident, calling it a grave violation of international law. Nauseda stated, "Russia has clearly violated international rules. It has also violated Lithuania's sovereignty. We cannot remain indifferent to this."

Immediately following the incident, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned representatives from the Russian Embassy to the ministry and issued a protest note.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania do not possess their own fighter jets. For this reason, NATO has been securing Baltic airspace since 2004. To this end, allies regularly deploy fighter jets and personnel to the Baltic countries on the Russian border.

News Source: İHA