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NATO fighters intercept six Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

French Rafale fighters deployed at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania scrambled to intercept and escort six Russian military aircraft operating in NATO’s Baltic area of responsibility. The Russian aircraft package reportedly included a Su-35 fighter, Su-34 fighter-bomber, Su-24 strike aircraft, Il-76 military transport, An-12 transport aircraft, and An-30 reconnaissance aircraft. The composition of the group is important because it combined fighter, strike, transport, and reconnaissance roles in one day. The aircraft were not reported to have violated NATO airspace, so this should not be classified as a territorial airspace breach. However, the event clearly fits the pattern of Russian air probing around NATO’s Baltic flank. The use of reconnaissance and transport aircraft alongside combat aircraft suggests a broader test of NATO identification, escort, and response procedures. The geography is especially relevant because Šiauliai is the main NATO Baltic Air Policing base protecting Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. This incident should be mapped as a non-compliant / provocative aircraft interception, not as a missile or drone event. It helps show the density of Russian aircraft activity around the Baltic corridor to Kaliningrad in early June 2026.

Occurrence

2026-06-02

Publication

2026-06-02T11:54:39Z

First observed

2026-09-24T06:09:10.079Z

Review status

Not assessed

Countries

EE, LT, LV

Updated

2026-09-27T23:56:59.668Z