Incursion follows collection of drone incidents and airspace violations which have prompted fears that Russia is testing NATO.
Revealed On 24 Oct 2025
Two Russian navy plane have briefly entered Lithuania’s airspace in what seemed to be a brand new provocation from Moscow as European Union leaders mentioned how one can strengthen their defences amid deepening considerations the war in Ukraine might spill over into their nations.
Lithuania’s armed forces stated in an announcement that the 2 plane – an Su-30 fighter and an Il-78 refuelling tanker – might have been conducting refuelling workouts within the neighbouring Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after they flew 700 metres (0.43 miles) into the nation at 6pm native time (15:00 GMT) on Thursday.
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“It is a blatant breach of worldwide legislation and territorial integrity of Lithuania,” stated President Gitanas Nauseda on X, including that his nation would summon Russian embassy representatives to protest in opposition to reckless and harmful behaviour.
Two Spanish Eurofighter Hurricane jets from the NATO Baltic Air Police had been scrambled in response and had been patrolling the realm, the Lithuanian navy stated.
Russia’s Defence Ministry denied the incursion had taken place, saying the flights had been performed “in strict compliance” with guidelines and “didn’t deviate from their route and didn’t violate the borders of different states”.
The incident occurred after Nauseda and his fellow EU leaders attended a Brussels summit on Thursday, endorsing a plan dubbed Readiness 2030 to make sure that Europe can defend itself in opposition to an out of doors assault by the top of the last decade.
It follows a collection of mysterious drone incidents and airspace violations by Russian warplanes in latest weeks which have heightened anxiousness that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be testing NATO’s defensive reflexes.
Three Russian navy jets violated Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes on September 19 in what was described by Tallinn as an “unprecedented and brazen intrusion”.
9 days earlier than, NATO jets had shot down 20 Russian drones that entered Polish airspace, marking the primary time an alliance member had engaged straight with Russia for the reason that begin of the Ukraine conflict.
Fellow Baltic state leaders Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Latvian International Minister Baiba Braze each expressed full solidarity with Lithuania.
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated the incident confirmed that “Russia is by no means calming down or retreating” and that continued vigilance is required.
Thursday’s EU summit additionally noticed the bloc greenlight a serious package deal of sanctions in opposition to Russia for its conflict on Ukraine.
It stopped wanting endorsing using Russian frozen assets to provide Kyiv a big mortgage. Russia had threatened a “painful response” if its belongings had been seized.
