On December 12–18 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled twice to intercept military aircraft of the Russian Federation in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea flying in violation of international aviation flight rules.
On December 15 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace. Its onboard transponder was off, the crew had no flight plan but maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On December 16 the NATO air policing capability intercepted one SU-34 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace. Its onboard transponder was switched off, the crew had no flight plan and was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
