23.10.2025 22:22
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced that two Russian fighter jets violated the country's airspace for 18 seconds. Following this development, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned representatives of the Russian Embassy to the ministry immediately after the incident and issued a note of protest.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced that two Russian fighter jets violated the country's airspace for 18 seconds, after which two Eurofighter jets from Spain took off for a patrol mission under NATO Air Policing.
Tensions have risen again in the eastern flank of Europe, where tensions increased after the airspace of Poland, Romania, and Estonia was violated by Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT VIOLATED LITHUANIAN AIRSPACE
In a statement made by the Ministry of Defense of NATO member Lithuania, it was reported that around 18:00 local time, two Russian fighter jets entered the country's airspace near the town of Kybartai in the southwest of Lithuania.
The statement noted that one of the Russian aircraft that violated the country's airspace was a SU-30 and the other was an IL-78 tanker aircraft, indicating that Russia was conducting a refueling exercise over Kaliningrad, a territory located between Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic Sea, which has no land connection.
The Lithuanian Air Force went on alert after the Russian aircraft, which entered the country's territory by 700 meters and continued the violation for 18 seconds. Following this, two Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from the Spanish Air Force took off and began patrolling the violated area under NATO Air Policing duties.
NOTE FROM LITHUANIA TO RUSSIA
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the incident, stating that it was a serious violation of international law. Nauseda said, "Russia has clearly violated international rules. It has also violated Lithuania's sovereignty. We cannot remain indifferent to this."
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned representatives of the Russian Embassy to the ministry immediately after the incident and issued a protest note.