Russian Ministry of Defence comments on violation of Lithuanian air space

The Russian Ministry of defense has commented on the violation of Lithuanian air space by Russian airplanes that were taking part in the military exercise West-2017. The Lithuanian authorities’ statement is ‘politicized’, Moscow thinks.

Two Il-76 airplanes were heading from Taganrog to the airfield Cherhekhovsk in Kaliningrad Oblast on September 16, RIA Novosti refers to the Russian Ministry of Defence. A thunderhead made them change their itinerary. The airplanes headed towards Lithuanian air space. The pilots warned the Lithuanian flight-control centre in Vilnius about it. The airplanes flew round the dangerous spot and quickly returned to their itinerary. It took them about 2 minutes. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, Lithuania did not oppose to it. Nobody expressed any protest by diplomatic and military channels in the next two days either.  

The pilots acted according to the international legislation, Moscow stressed. Russia is surprised at the Lithuanian authorities’ actions. The Russian Ambassador to Lithuania was summoned to the Lithuanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and received a note in connection with ‘the violation of the republican air space’ on Monday, Euroradio reported. Lithuania demanded an explanation from Russians.