Lithuania reported that two Russian military aircraft entered its airspace for 18 seconds on Thursday. The country’s military identified the planes as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling tanker. Officials said the aircraft likely crossed the border during a refuelling training mission from Kaliningrad around 1600 CET.
NATO’s Baltic Air Police deployed Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets to patrol the area after the incident. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda called the violation a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity” in a post on X.
He condemned the intrusion by the Russian fighter jet and transport plane, demanding a firm response. Moscow has not yet commented on the incident.
NATO Warns Moscow Over Continued Intrusions
NATO and the European Union remain on high alert after several suspected Russian airspace violations in recent weeks. At the end of September, NATO warned Moscow that it would use all necessary means to defend its territory after Russian drones were shot down over Poland and Estonia reported fighter jet incursions.
Poland faced its first direct encounter with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine when drones entered its airspace on 10 September. Estonia later reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes, a claim the Kremlin denied.
NATO leaders expressed deep concern over repeated incidents, stressing that any further aggression would face unified resistance. The alliance stated it would employ all lawful military and non-military tools to protect its members.
Growing Drone Incidents Across Northern Europe
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte launched the Eastern Sentry programme to deter more Russian violations and reinforce support for Poland. He said drones had breached allied airspace and called such actions unacceptable, emphasizing unity and collective defense among NATO members.
In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be ruled out after Copenhagen airport closed for several hours on 23 September due to drone sightings. She warned that such disruptions reflected the challenges modern societies must prepare for.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the accusations as “unfounded.” The next day, Norway closed Oslo airport for three hours after possible drone sightings. Norwegian authorities reported three airspace violations by Russia in 2025, though they have not confirmed whether the latest incident was deliberate. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that, intentional or not, such actions remain unacceptable.
