Two Russian military aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace on Thursday for 18 seconds, the Lithuanian military reported. Officials identified the aircraft as an Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refuelling tanker. They appeared to be conducting a refuelling training mission when they crossed from Kaliningrad into NATO member Lithuania around 1600 CET.
Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets from NATO’s Baltic Air Police immediately scrambled and began patrolling the area, the military confirmed.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda strongly condemned the intrusion. Posting on X, he called it a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.” In a video statement, he said, “I strongly condemn the violation of Lithuanian airspace by Russian aircraft from the Kaliningrad region. We must respond to this.” Moscow has not commented on the incident.
NATO Raises Alert Over Repeated Violations
NATO and the European Union have remained on high alert amid a series of Russian airspace intrusions in recent weeks. The alliance warned Moscow in late September that it would use all necessary measures to defend its airspace after Russian drones were shot down over Poland and Estonia reported another violation.
The 10 September drone incident in Poland marked the first direct clash between NATO and Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes without authorisation. The Kremlin denied responsibility.
European leaders expressed alarm over the repeated incidents, questioning NATO’s readiness to confront mounting Russian aggression. The alliance stated that it would use all lawful military and non-military tools to protect its members and deter threats from every direction.
Europe Responds to Rising Drone Threats
After the breach of Polish airspace, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the Eastern Sentry programme to strengthen defence and demonstrate unity with Poland. Rutte said, “We see drones entering our airspace. Whether intentional or not, it is unacceptable. The allies stand in full solidarity with Poland. It is vital to deter aggression and defend every member of the Alliance.”
On 23 September, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be dismissed after drones forced Copenhagen Airport to shut down for several hours. She warned that such incidents reflect the challenges modern societies must prepare to face. The Kremlin dismissed the allegations as “unfounded.”
A day earlier, Oslo Airport in Norway also closed for three hours after drone sightings. Norwegian officials said Russia allegedly violated their airspace three times in 2025 but have not confirmed whether the latest event was deliberate or accidental. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre declared, “Regardless of the cause, this is unacceptable.”
