The president of Lithuania has raised alarm after two Russian military aircraft briefly entered the country’s airspace, marking what appears to be a new provocation from Moscow. According to Lithuania armed forces, the incident occurred at 6pm local time (15:00 GMT) on Thursday, when a Russian Su-30 fighter and an Il-78 refueling tanker crossed about 700 meters (0.43 miles) into Lithuania territory.
Russian Jets Briefly Enter Airspace Over Lithuania
The Lithuanian military suggested the aircraft might have been carrying out refueling exercises in the nearby Russian exclave of Kaliningrad before entering Lithuania. The breach was brief, but it drew swift attention from NATO forces stationed in the region.
President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the flights, calling them “a blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity of Lithuania.” He confirmed that Lithuania would summon Russian embassy representatives to lodge a formal protest against what he described as reckless and dangerous behavior.
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In response to the incident, two Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets, deployed as part of the NATO Baltic Air Police mission, were scrambled to patrol the area. NATO’s rapid deployment of fighter jets highlights the heightened vigilance among alliance members following repeated airspace violations in recent weeks.
Russia’s Defense Ministry, however, denied the violation, claiming that the flights were “in strict compliance” with regulations and “did not deviate from their route and did not violate the borders of other states.”
Rising Tensions in Lithuania and the Baltic Region
The latest airspace violation follows a pattern of increasingly tense incidents in the Baltic region. Earlier this month, three Russian military jets entered Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes, prompting Tallinn to describe the incursion as an “unprecedented and brazen intrusion.”
Nine days before Lithuania’s airspace breach, NATO jets engaged directly with Russia for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war by shooting down 20 Russian drones that had entered Polish airspace. These events have sparked concern across Europe that the conflict in Ukraine could spill over into Lithuania and neighboring countries.
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The Lithuanian incident occurred just as EU leaders gathered in Brussels for a summit, where they discussed plans to strengthen European defense capabilities. The summit saw approval of “Readiness 2030,” a plan aimed at ensuring Europe can defend itself effectively against external threats by the end of the decade.
Baltic neighbors expressed strong solidarity with Lithuania. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze voiced full support for Lithuania’s stance against Russia’s breach of sovereignty. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the event demonstrated that Russia “is in no way calming down or retreating” and emphasized the need for continued vigilance in Lithuania and the region.
EU Response and Broader Security Concerns
Thursday’s EU summit also addressed the broader consequences of Russia’s ongoing military aggression in Ukraine. Leaders approved a major sanctions package against Russia, reinforcing the bloc’s opposition to the war. However, the summit stopped short of endorsing the use of Russian frozen assets to provide Ukraine with a large loan, a move that had prompted a warning from Moscow about a “painful response.”
The Lithuanian airspace breach is part of a series of provocations that have raised alarm among NATO and EU countries. Recent weeks have seen unexplained drone incidents and repeated violations of European airspace by Russian warplanes, heightening concerns about potential tests of NATO’s defensive responses in Lithuania and across the Baltic region.
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The swift mobilization of NATO fighter jets and the diplomatic protests by Lithuania demonstrate the alliance’s commitment to safeguarding member states’ airspace. As tensions continue, European leaders remain alert to any sign of further military provocations in Lithuania and other Baltic nations.
The incident underlines the fragile security situation in Eastern Europe and the challenges faced by NATO in responding quickly to violations of international borders.