Italian fighters scramble after Russian aircraft violate Lithuanian airspace

LRT reported, citing informed sources quoted by ANSA, that two Italian Air Force Eurofighter F-2000 jets scrambled from Šiauliai airfield late Thursday afternoon after two Russian military aircraft violated Lithuanian airspace.

The fighters were carrying out NATO’s air defence mission on the alliance’s eastern flank as part of the Baltic Thunder III Air Operations Group.

The operation was coordinated through NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany.