Nato has once again been forced to scramble fighter jets after the “cruel” Vladimir Putin breached Lithuania’s airspace.
Lithuanian President Gitana Nauseda confirmed on Thursday night that his nation’s airspace was violated by Russian warplanes.
Nato’s Baltic air policing mission brought together Eurofighter Typhoon jets to intercept the aircraft – incoming from Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania.
Having departed the Russian territory, an SU-30 fighter jet and Il-78 transporter plane entered Lithuania’s airspace for 18 seconds, straying around half a mile over Lithuania.
In 2015, Nato ally Turkey shot down a Russian jet in its airspace after just 17 seconds.
PICTURED: A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon flies over Poland following Russia’s drone incursions
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Following a recent string of incidents involving Russian aircraft breaching European countries’ airspace, Lithuania granted powers to its army to shoot down any unmanned drones which enter its skies.
Mr Nauseda said after the incident on Thursday: “I strongly condemn the violation of Lithuanian airspace by the fighter jet and transport plane of the Russian Federation from a Kaliningrad region site.
“This is a cruel violation of international law and territorial sovereignty of Lithuania and we have to react to this.”
The nation’s Defence Ministry added: “Our forces acted quickly with Nato jets on patrol. Lithuania remains strong and ready. Every inch of our country is protected.”
One Nato official said: “This is another demonstration of Nato’s readiness to respond to any developments and ability to ensure the safety of the Alliance’s airspace.”
However, the Russian Defence Ministry rejected the accusation, insisting that none of the SU-30 jets training in Kaliningrad on Thursday violated the borders of other countries.
More to follow…
