Lithuania’s military said on Thursday that two Russian military planes had crossed the Lithuanian border, remaining in the NATO member state’s airspace for 18 seconds.
The aircraft, a fighter jet and a tanker, flew 700 meters (about half a mile) from the Kaliningrad region into Lithuania.
The Lithuanian Air Force detected Russian SU-30 and IL-78 aircraft near Kibartai at around 6 pm (1600 GMT).
Two Spanish Air Force Eurofighters scrambled in response to the intrusion.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, in a post on X, called the move a “gross violation of international law and Lithuania’s territorial integrity” and said it “confirms the importance of strengthening European air defense readiness.”
Nausheda’s post also said Vilnius’ Foreign Ministry would summon representatives of the Russian Embassy to protest against Russia’s “reckless and dangerous behavior.”
Russian violations of NATO airspace becoming more common
Thursday’s incident is the latest in a series of incursions in which Russian jets as well as drones have violated NATO airspace.
Poland, Romania, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have all been subject to such intrusions in the past few weeks.
The situation has alarmed European leaders, who have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of waging a hybrid war and suggested the provocations are designed to terrorize European citizens and test NATO’s resolve and readiness.
The Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as neighboring countries Finland and Poland, all share a border with Russia, placing them directly on the eastern side of NATO and the EU.
They also share a special history with Russia.
Each has been invaded and occupied at some point, and they fear that if Putin is not stopped in Ukraine he intends to force them back under Moscow’s yoke.
Edited by: Sam Dusan Inayatullah