NATO fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft twice over Baltic Sea this week

NATO fighter jets conducting air patrol missions in the Baltic States carried out two sorties between 23 and 29 December to detect and escort Russian aircraft violating flight rules.

According to the press service for Lithuania's Defence Ministry, NATO fighter jets conducted a sortie to intercept an Il-20 aircraft on 23 December. The aircraft was flying in international airspace from the Russian mainland to Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast.

The aircraft was flying without a flight plan, with its radar transponder switched on and in radio contact with the regional area control centre (RFC).

NATO jets also took off to identify one IL-76 aircraft.

NATO fighter jets took to the skies to identify one An-26 aircraft on 25 December.

On 17 December, reports indicated that the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden had scrambled their fighter jets after Russian Tu-22 strategic bombers, escorted by Su-27 fighters, were spotted over the Baltic Sea.

Earlier, it was reported that NATO fighter jets patrolling the airspace over the Baltic States had conducted seven sorties to detect and escort Russian aircraft violating flight rules.

These violations have become a regular occurrence in recent months.