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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said Thursday that Russian military aircraft violated Lithuania’s airspace, calling the incursion a blatant breach of the country’s sovereignty and international law.
Nausėda said Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry will summon representatives from the Russian Embassy in Vilnius to formally protest the violation. In a video posted to X, Nausėda said, "We have to react to this."
“This is a blatant breach of international law and the territorial integrity of Lithuania,” Nausėda wrote. “Once again, it confirms the importance of strengthening European air defense readiness.”
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Why It Matters
The Baltic nations have grown increasingly concerned over Russia’s actions amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. A series of recent drone incidents and airspace violations by Russian warplanes has fueled fears that President Vladimir Putin may be testing NATO’s defensive response.
Some European leaders have accused Moscow of engaging in hybrid warfare, though the Kremlin has denied any such activities.
What To Know
The Lithuanian armed forces said the Russian aircraft may have been carrying out refueling exercises when they briefly entered NATO airspace. Around 6 p.m. local time, a Russian Su-30 fighter jet and an Il-78 refueling tanker crossed roughly 765 yards (700 meters) into Lithuania from the Kaliningrad region, remaining for only 18 seconds before turning back.
NATO responded by scrambling Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets already stationed in the area.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė also condemned the violation, describing it as another act of Russian intimidation.
“This incident once again shows that Russia is behaving like a terrorist state, disregarding international law and the security of neighboring countries,” Ruginienė wrote on Facebook, adding that Lithuania remains secure through its NATO alliance.
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The incident is the latest in a series of airspace incursions attributed to Russia. On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian F-35s deployed under NATO’s Baltic mission. Days later, over 20 Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO jets to shoot some of them down, a significant moment marking the first time a NATO member has fired on Russian targets since the onset of the Ukraine war.
With Russian incursions extending from the Baltic states to Poland and Romania, NATO’s eastern members have increasingly pressed the alliance to adopt stricter protocols, including clearer rules of engagement in the event of repeated or more aggressive airspace breaches. So far, the alliance continues to emphasize restraint and coordination over confrontation.
Meanwhile, tensions between the United States and Russia continue to simmer as the war in Ukraine drags on. President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as his efforts to end the conflict stall. On Tuesday, Russian drones and missiles struck targets across Ukraine, killing at least six people, including a woman and her two young daughters.
“Hopefully, he’ll become reasonable,” Trump said of Putin during remarks at the White House on Wednesday alongside Rutte, just hours after the U.S. announced renewed sanctions on Russian oil aimed at pressuring Moscow.
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What People Are Saying
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said on Facebook: "Lithuania is safe. Together with our allies, we look after and will defend every centimetre of our country."
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told private broadcaster TVN24: "This shows that vigilance is required at all times, that Russia is in no way calming down or retreating."
What Happens Next
Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with Putin's refusal to budge from his conditions for a settlement after Ukraine offered a ceasefire and direct peace talks. Trump said Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Putin was on hold because he didn’t want it to be a “waste of time.”
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 10/20/25, 4:04 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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