In Lithuania, NATO fighter jets escorted Russian intelligence aircraft

“An IL-20 was identified, flying without a plan, without a transponder, and communicating with air traffic controllers,” said Victoria Cheminite, head of the public information department.

This is the third time this week when NATO fighters took off from Siauliai base to escort the Russian side.

There were also three such cases last week. NATO fighters stationed in Siauliai took off twice for escort, and once in Estonian Emari.

The air police mission in Lithuania is currently carried out by Italy and Poland, in Estonia by Spain, and in Poland by Belgium.

Representatives of the Alliance claim that flights of Russian military aircraft with transponders turned off (identification transceivers) pose a threat to civil aviation.