Lithuania calls for firm response to Russian aircraft over Estonia, recalls Turkiye's stance
Photo: Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė (facebook.com/dovile.sakaliene)
NATO's border in the North East is being tested for a reason. We need to mean business.
This was stated by Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, citing the official’s page on the social network X.
"Türkiye set an example 10 years ago. Some food for thought," the minister wrote.
Three russian fighter jets over Tallinn is one more hard proof that #EasternSentry is long due.
— Dovilė Šakalienė (@DSakaliene) September 19, 2025
NATOs border in the North East is being tested for a reason.
We need to mean business.
PS. Türkiye set an example 10 years ago.
Some food for thought.
Russian provocations against NATO
On Friday, September 19, Russian forces carried out new provocations against the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO).
Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets, which are carriers of Kinzhal aero-ballistic missiles, crossed Estonian airspace for 12 minutes and moved toward Tallinn. Italian F-35s were scrambled to intercept the aircraft.
In addition, two other Russian fighters flew over the Petrobaltic oil and gas platform in the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred in Poland’s territorial waters.
Downing of a Russian jet over Turkiye
On the morning of November 24, 2015, two Russian Su-24 jets violated Turkish airspace. Turkey is also a NATO member.
Two Turkish F-16 fighters were scrambled to intercept the intruding aircraft.
Over the course of five minutes, Turkish pilots issued 10 warnings to the Russian crews, but they failed to respond. One of the Turkish jets then engaged at an altitude of 6,000 meters, shooting down the Russian plane.
The aircraft crashed in Syria’s Latakia province, about 4 km from the Syrian-Turkish border. The commander was killed—reportedly shot from the ground after ejecting. The second pilot survived and was evacuated.
Ankara stated that at the time of the interception, Turkish forces did not know which country the intruding jet belonged to.
Russia’s Defense Ministry denied that its aircraft violated Turkish airspace, claiming the mission was part of Moscow’s operations against Islamic State militants.
