Security around the Baltic Sea

Russia denies: Did not violate Lithuanian airspace

Russia denies that its fighter jets violated Lithuanian airspace on Thursday.

A statement from the Defense Ministry, which is reproduced by state media, states that two Su-30 planes carried out scheduled training flights in the Kaliningrad region.

“The plane did not deviate from its route and did not violate the borders of any other states,” the ministry writes.

According to the Lithuanian military, two Russian fighter jets flew 700 meters into Lithuanian airspace for 18 seconds. Two Spanish NATO planes took off to meet them.

Lithuanian airspace violated by two Russian military planes

Lithuanian airspace was violated by two Russian military planes on Thursday evening, the Lithuanian Defense Forces said, according to Reuters.

The Russian planes were in the NATO country’s airspace for 18 seconds. Spanish fighter jets from the defense alliance's Baltic Sea force scrambled to meet the planes.

In a post on X, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called the violation a "blatant violation of international law and Lithuania's territorial integrity."

"It once again confirms the importance of strengthening European air defense readiness," he wrote, announcing that the Russian ambassador would be summoned.