Two Russian military aircraft briefly violated Lithuanian airspace on Thursday evening, Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus?da announced on social media, calling the incident “a clear violation of international law and the territorial integrity of Lithuania.”
This evening, Russian military planes violated Lithuanian air space. This is a blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity of Lithuania. Once again, it confirms the importance of strengthening European air defence readiness.@LithuaniaMFA will summon Russian… pic.twitter.com/0GS6OrKaRx
— Gitanas Naus?da (@GitanasNauseda) October 23, 2025
The aircraft reportedly entered Lithuanian territory from Kaliningrad, penetrating about 700 metres into the country’s airspace and remaining there for 18 seconds, according to Lithuania’s Defence Forces. Spanish NATO fighter jets stationed in the Baltics were scrambled in response as part of the alliance’s air policing mission.
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry said it will summon Russian embassy representatives to lodge a formal protest.
Russia has denied any violation, stating that Su-30 fighter jets were conducting training flights over Kaliningrad and “did not deviate from their route or cross into any foreign airspace.”
The incident marks another spike in tensions along NATO’s eastern flank, as Baltic nations continue to report frequent Russian military activity near their borders.