• Lithuania summoned a Russian diplomat after military planes violated its airspace.
• Two Russian aircraft reportedly conducted a brief incursion during refueling exercises.
• NATO air patrols were activated in response to the violation.

Lithuania has summoned a Russian diplomat in protest after two military aircraft entered its airspace on Thursday, prompting condemnation from President Gitanas Nausėda, who called the incident a blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity. The aircraft, an SU-30 fighter jet and an IL-78 refueling tanker, reportedly flew approximately 700 meters into Lithuania from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad before exiting after about 18 seconds, likely during refueling exercises, according to sources including SCMP and LA Times.

In response to the incursion, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry has issued a strong protest and demanded that Russia provide an immediate explanation. The military deployment triggered the scrambling of two Spanish Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which are part of NATO's air policing mission in the Baltic region, as confirmed by AA and Al Jazeera.

This incident adds to the heightened concerns among Baltic states over Russian military activity, especially in light of recent drone incursions and airspace violations. Lithuania has allegedly informed NATO allies and EU partners through diplomatic channels regarding the violation, indicating a collaborative effort to address security concerns amid increasing tensions, as reported by SCMP and LA Times.

Russia's Defense Ministry has denied any violation of Lithuanian airspace, claiming that its flights adhered to regulations, further escalating the dialogue around the security dynamics in the region. The Lithuanian president emphasized the need to strengthen European air defense readiness amidst these provocations, a sentiment echoed across Baltic leaders and NATO as Europe seeks to bolster its defense capabilities against potential threats, according to AA and Al Jazeera.