VILNIUS. June 16 (Interfax) - Lithuania has demanded Russia's explanations in light of a violation of its airspace by Russian military aircraft, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said.
A representative of the Russian Embassy in Lithuania was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday and the ministry expressed protest over a violation of the state border of Lithuania after two Russian Air Force aircraft had entered the country's airspace over the Baltic Sea on Tuesday.
"Lithuania requires that the latest incident must be explained and all necessary measures taken by Russia to prevent similar incidents in the future," the ministry said.
According to Lithuania, the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft entered the Lithuanian airspace at the depth of one kilometer and spent about a minute there.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has linked Russia's actions with the BALTOPS international exercise taking place in the Baltic Sea and organized by the United States. The BALTOPS exercise, which started in early June, is to conclude on Friday. About 4,000 servicemen, 40 ships and 60 aircraft from 18 countries are involved in it.
The press service for the Estonian Defense Forces' General Staff said earlier on Wednesday that two Russian Su-35 fighter jets had entered Estonia's airspace in the vicinity of Hiiumaa Island on Tuesday without permission. The Estonian military said that the Russian fighter jets had spent less than a minute in this country's airspace. The Estonian military also claims that the Russian planes were flying with their transponders shut off and in the absence of bilateral radio contact with Estonia's air navigation service.
On Wednesday, the Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's charge d'affaires ad interim and lodged a protest with him.
The Russian military said that two Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets had conducted a flight over the Baltic Sea without violating Estonia's airspace.
"The flight took place strictly in accordance with the set route. During the flight, the planes did not deviate from their route, which is confirmed by air situation data," the Defense Ministry said.
The Russian military said that on Tuesday, two Su-35 fighter jets had conducted a routine flight over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea.
"All flights of Russian Aerospace Force planes have been conducted and continue to be conducted in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters and do not violate the borders of other states," the Defense Ministry said.