Russian fighter jets took off from Kaliningrad – Russia, flew through the skies of Poland and passed over the Baltic Sea. The Italian Air Force launched four Eurofighter jets to intercept the planes that had to return to Russian space. The Italian jets were stationed in Poland earlier this year as part of NATO. The air standoff comes as war continues to rage in Ukraine
Four Russian fighter jets were intercepted and forced to return to a Russian base after they entered Polish airspace, according to Italy’s air force.
The Aeronautica Militare Corps announced that the squadron took off from the Russian city of Kaliningrad and passed between Poland and Lithuania, “they flew an aggressive route that brought them to the skies of Poland”, the Italian Air Force did not specify when the violation occurred. The Russian planes then continued over the Baltic Sea and headed towards Sweden and from there returned to Russia.
Italy quickly launched four Eurofighter jets in response, the planes took off from Poland’s Malbork Air Base and intercepted the Russian planes, forcing them to return to Kaliningrad.
The Italian Air Force said that the Russian planes also violated Swedish airspace, but this claim was rejected by the spokeswoman of the Swedish army, who said that Putin’s planes were only over international waters, Kaliningrad is a Russian province that lies between Poland and Lithuania.
Italy’s planes were stationed in Poland as part of NATO’s air defense mission this summer. Poland is a long-time member of NATO, having joined in 1999, while Sweden earlier this year applied for membership in the alliance alongside neighboring Finland.
The disturbing sortie by Russian warplanes comes as fighting continues to rage in eastern and southern Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hinting at a series of nuclear threats to the West as his troops retreat and flee in the face of Ukrainian counterattacks.
Italian fighter jets are currently stationed in Poland as part of the Baltic air defense operation, which is an expression of the solidarity of NATO countries with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, those countries of the alliance that do not have their own air forces.
Regular air policing is a mandatory procedure, so in this case the task of guarding the skies is shared by NATO allies who take turns to launch operations in three-month rotations.