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yesterday

Lithuania Protests Brief Russian Airspace Breach as NATO Jets Intercept

An 18-second crossing near the Kaliningrad border adds to recent Baltic incidents, reinforcing allied efforts to harden air and counter-drone defenses despite Moscow’s denial.

Image
FILE - In this photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet carrying a Kinzhal missile takes off from the Hemeimeem air base in Syria on June 25, 2021. The Russian military has deployed warplanes armed with state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to the country's Kaliningrad region. The Defense Ministry said three MiG-31 fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles arrived Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at an air base in the Baltic Sea exclave. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
Recent mysterious drone incidents and airspace violations have fueled concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be testing NATO’s defensive reflexes.

Overview

  • Lithuania says a Russian Su-30 and Il-78 entered about 700 meters into its airspace for roughly 18 seconds at around 6 p.m. local time on Oct. 23, likely during refueling training.
  • Two Spanish Eurofighter Typhoons on NATO Baltic Air Policing duty were scrambled from Šiauliai to intercept and patrol, with a NATO official highlighting the alliance’s readiness.
  • Vilnius summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires and lodged a formal protest, notifying NATO, the North Atlantic Council and EU partners of the incident near Kybartai.
  • Russia’s Defense Ministry rejected the accusation, asserting the aircraft remained over the Kaliningrad region on planned routes and did not cross any borders.
  • Allies link the episode to a broader pattern of recent violations in Poland and Estonia that is driving EU Readiness 2030 planning and calls for stronger counter-drone and air-defense measures; some reports note the timing coincided with new U.S. oil sanctions on Russia.