Two Russian military aircraft temporarily entered Lithuanian airspace in what Lithuanian authorities described as a new provocation from Moscow.
The incident occurred while European Union leaders were meeting in Brussels to discuss strengthening European defense, amid concerns that the war in Ukraine could spill over into neighboring countries.
According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the aircraft involved were a Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 tanker plane, reportedly conducting aerial refueling exercises over Russia’s Kaliningrad region when they crossed about 700 meters into Lithuanian airspace around 18:00 local time.
President Gitanas Nausėda called the incident “a clear violation of international law and Lithuania’s territorial integrity,” adding:
“We will summon representatives of the Russian embassy to protest this reckless and dangerous act,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense denied the violation, claiming the flights were conducted “fully in accordance with international regulations” and “without deviating from the planned route.”
