A Russian Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refueling aircraft violated Lithuania’s airspace, the country’s Ministry of Defense reported.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred near the town of Kybartai, which borders Russia’s Kaliningrad region. The aircraft crossed about 700 meters into Lithuanian territory before returning to Russia. The airspace violation lasted approximately 18 seconds.
“In response, two Spanish fighter jets from the NATO Air Policing Mission were immediately scrambled,” the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
President Gitanas Nausėda announced that the Foreign Ministry would summon representatives of the Russian embassy to deliver a protest “against reckless and dangerous behavior.”
Russia has not yet commented on the reports.
In recent months, Russian fighter jets and drones have repeatedly violated the airspace of NATO countries. In late September, Bloomberg reported that diplomats from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany privately warned Moscow that NATO air defense forces are prepared to shoot down any Russian combat aircraft violating Alliance airspace. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said such aggressive statements represent “another serious escalation near Russia’s borders.”
