Politics Lithuania reports airspace violation by Russian aircraft
According to the army, two Russian military aircraft entered the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO country in Lithuania. According to the Lithuanian army, the air force detected a violation of the state border near Kybartai by a Russian SU-30 jet and an IL-78 tanker aircraft at around 6 p.m. local time. They were possibly carrying out refueling exercises in the Kaliningrad region.
23.10.2025, 19:56
23.10.2025, 22:15
SDA
Moscow rejected the accusations. The Russian Ministry of Defense wrote on Telegram that SU-30 fighter jets were carrying out scheduled training flights over the exclave of Kaliningrad. The borders of other states had not been violated, as "objective means of control" had confirmed.
The two aircraft had flown about 700 meters into Lithuanian territory and had remained there for about 18 seconds. In response to the incident, two Eurofighters from the Spanish air force took off and are now patrolling the area, the Lithuanian army added.
A NATO spokesperson confirmed the incident. According to the statement, two Spanish aircraft were alerted, which are stationed at the Lithuanian airbase in Siauliai for the NATO mission "Eastern Sentry". This was launched in September in the wake of the recent airspace violations by Russian fighter jets and kamikaze drones.
Clear words from Vilnius towards Moscow
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned the airspace violation and spoke of a "blatant violation of international law and the territorial integrity of Lithuania". The incident confirmed once again that air defense must be strengthened, he wrote on Platform X.
Head of government Inga Ruginiene also chose clear words. "This incident shows once again that Russia is behaving like a terrorist state and disregarding international law and the security of neighboring countries," she wrote on Facebook. At the same time, she assured that the situation was completely under control: "Lithuania is safe. Together with our allies, we will protect and defend every inch of our country"
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a representative of the Russian embassy and handed over a protest note. Russia was asked to make a statement and take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future, according to a statement. NATO and EU partners as well as the North Atlantic Council, NATO's highest political body, were also informed of the incident.
Series of airspace violations
The incident follows a series of airspace violations by Russia, which have recently caused increasing tension and unrest among the NATO allies in Europe. Russian fighter jets had entered Estonian airspace on September 19 and Russian military drones had repeatedly violated the airspace over the NATO alliance territory along the eastern flank.
According to Estonia, three armed Russian MiG-31 aircraft flew through Estonian airspace over the Baltic Sea for twelve minutes. The EU and NATO state had therefore requested both an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and consultations with its allies in accordance with Article 4 of the NATO treaty. In the subsequent statement, the military alliance warned Russia against further border violations under threat of force.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not have their own fighter jets. NATO has therefore been securing the Baltic airspace since 2004. To this end, the allies regularly deploy fighter jets and personnel to the Baltic states bordering Russia in north-eastern Europe. The units are stationed at military airports in Siauliai (Lithuania) and Ämari (Estonia).
