Russian navy planes briefly violated Lithuania’s airspace the Lithuanian President stated, condemning what he known as a blatant breach of the territorial integrity of his European Union and NATO-member nation.

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry deliberate to summon Russian Embassy representatives within the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius to protest the violation, President Gitanas Nauseda stated in a put up on the social media platform X.

“This is a blatant breach of worldwide regulation and territorial integrity of Lithuania,” Mr. Nauseda wrote on X. “Once once more, it confirms the significance of strengthening European air defence readiness.” There was no instant remark from Moscow.

Baltic nations have already got been on heightened alert over neighboring Russia’s aggression on Ukraine. And in latest weeks, a collection of mysterious drone incidents and airspace violations by Russian conflict planes have fueled considerations that Russian President Vladimir Putin is perhaps testing NATO’s defensive reflexes.

Some leaders have accused Mr. Putin of waging a hybrid conflict in Europe. Moscow denies probing NATO’s defenses.

The Lithuanian armed forces stated in a press release that about 6 p.m. native time on Thursday (October 23), two Russian navy plane flew into Lithuanian airspace for about 700 meters (765 yards), The SU-30 plane and IL-78 refueling plane flew away after roughly 18 seconds.

The Lithuanian armed forces consider the navy planes may need been conducting refueling workouts within the neighboring Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Two Spanish fighter jets, which had been doing NATO air policing missions, have been scrambled and flew out to the realm.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr. Nauseda attended a summit on the European Council constructing in Brussels the place EU leaders endorsed a plan to make sure that Europe can defend itself in opposition to an outdoor assault by the tip of the last decade. The plan is dubbed Readiness 2030.

Published – October 24, 2025 05:05 am IST

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