Key facts
- NATO fighter jets were scrambled three times between Aug. 31 and Sept. 6 in response to Russian military aircraft near the Baltic states.
- On Aug. 31, a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flew from Russia toward Kaliningrad without a transponder or flight plan.
- On Sept. 1, NATO jets intercepted an object that entered Estonian airspace from Russia.
- On Sept. 5, 12 NATO jets identified another Russian Il-20 flying toward Kaliningrad without a transponder or flight plan.
- Baltic governments have accused Russia of cyberattacks, sabotage, and aerial incursions.
NATO fighter jets were scrambled three times between Aug. 31 and Sept. 6 in response to Russian military aircraft operating near the Baltic states, according to data from Lithuania's Defense Ministry.
On Aug. 31, NATO jets identified a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying through international airspace from mainland Russia toward the Kaliningrad region without its transponder switched on or a filed flight plan, though the crew maintained radio contact with air traffic controllers. A day later, NATO fighters were dispatched to identify and intercept an object that entered Estonian airspace from Russia before conducting patrols along the Estonian-Russian border. On Sept. 5, 12 NATO air-policing fighter jets were deployed to identify another Russian Il-20 traveling toward Kaliningrad, which was also flying without an active transponder or flight plan.