NATO fighter jets were sent to the airspace near the Baltic States’ borders to intercept a Russian plane violating flight regulations, as reported by Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence.
Between April 13 and 19, NATO policing aircraft were deployed four times to locate and intercept Russian planes. On April 13, jets were dispatched to identify an IL-20 aircraft traveling through international airspace between the Kaliningrad region of Russia.
The aircraft was found in breach of flight regulations for operating without a transponder, flight plan, and radio contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Centre (RATC). Additionally, a second aircraft, an AN-26, was intercepted by NATO forces for flying without a filed flight plan, despite having an active transponder and radio communication.
Subsequently, on April 14, NATO jets were scrambled again to intercept the IL-20 aircraft. The next day, on April 15, NATO aircraft were deployed to identify two SU-30SM jets also in violation of flight regulations while traveling to and from Russia.
Further incidents on April 17 involved NATO fighter jets intercepting the IL-20 aircraft, which breached aviation regulations by flying without a transponder, flight plan, and radio contact with the RSVC, on a route within the Kaliningrad region of Russia.
Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry’s TV channel Zvezda acknowledged that NATO fighter jets shadowed bombers during a sortie over international waters, stating that the flights strictly adhered to international airspace rules.
These events occurred amidst allegations that Finland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania allowed Ukrainian drones to operate in their airspace targeting Russian oil ports. Sergei Shoigu, the Russian security council secretary, warned of Russia’s right to self-defense, emphasizing Putin’s authority and cautioning the Baltic states against acting with impunity.
For the latest news updates, consider Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.
