On September 29–October 5, 2025, the NATO Baltic Air Policing Detachment in the Baltic states was scrambled to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating the international flight regulations three times.
On September 30 NATO fighter aircraft safeguarding the Baltic airspace were alerted to identify and escort two AN-12 flying through international airspace from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad. The aircraft had their onboard transponders switched on and maintained the radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre but no flight plans had been pre-filed.
On September 30 NATO fighter jets intercepted one AN-72 flying through international airspace from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia without the flight plan, with its onboard transponder switched on, and keeping the radio contact. The air policing aircraft also identified and escorted four SU-30 and two MIG-31, all flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via international airspace. None had their onboard transponders on, pre-filed flight plans, nor maintained radio communication. On the same day NATO fighter jets also responded to one SU-35 flying from a location to Kaliningrad and back to Kaliningrad through international airspace. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no pre-filed flight plan and was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On October 1 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one SU-24MR flying through international airspace from mainland Russia and then back. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no pre-filed flight plan and was not keeping radio communication.
