Two Russian military aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace for 18 seconds on Thursday, the country’s military reported. The aircraft, identified as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling plane, crossed from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad around 1600 CET during what appeared to be a refuelling exercise.
Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from NATO’s Baltic Air Police scrambled to respond and began patrolling the area. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda denounced the incident on X, calling it a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.”
In a video statement, Nausėda condemned Russia’s actions and urged a strong response, saying Lithuania must act decisively. Moscow has not yet issued a statement.
NATO Warns Moscow After Repeated Airspace Intrusions
NATO and the European Union remain on high alert following multiple suspected Russian airspace violations in recent weeks. NATO warned Moscow in late September that it would defend its members using all necessary means after Russian drones entered Polish airspace and fighter jets intruded into Estonia.
Poland experienced its first direct encounter with Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine when Russian drones entered its territory on 10 September. Estonia later reported that three Russian MiG-31 jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes without authorisation, a claim the Kremlin denied.
European leaders expressed alarm over the growing number of incidents and questioned NATO’s readiness against Russian provocations. NATO reaffirmed that it would use every military and non-military measure allowed under international law to protect its allies.
Drone Sightings Disrupt Nordic Airports
Following the violation of Polish airspace, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte launched the Eastern Sentry programme to deter Russian incursions and strengthen solidarity with Poland. Rutte stressed that drone violations, intentional or not, are unacceptable and said all allies stand united in defending every member of the alliance.
On 23 September, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be ruled out after Copenhagen airport closed for several hours due to drone sightings. She warned that such events reflect the growing security challenges Europe faces.
The Kremlin dismissed the claims as “unfounded.” A day earlier, Oslo airport shut down for three hours after similar reports of drones. The Norwegian government said Russia allegedly violated its airspace three times in 2025. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre declared that, intentional or not, such actions are “completely unacceptable.”
