On October 23, Lithuania summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Russian Embassy in Vilnius, expressing an official protest against the violation of its airspace by two Russian aircraft. The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Russia must cease its aggressive behavior and respect the borders of neighboring states. The aircraft, a Sukhoi SU-30 and an IL-78, entered Lithuanian airspace from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, being intercepted by NATO planes.
The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, condemned the incursion as a flagrant violation of international law, highlighting the need to strengthen European air defense. The Lithuanian Prime Minister stated that the country is prepared to defend itself, while officials from Estonia and Latvia expressed solidarity. The incident was preceded by other similar violations in the region, raising concerns about Russia's behavior.