NATO jets intercept Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea

NATO aircraft intercepted a group of Russian military planes over the Baltic Sea on April 20, according to the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, as reported by Caliber.Az.

The operation involved military pilots from France, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and Romania, reflecting a coordinated multinational response.

📍Lituanie | Les Rafale 🇫🇷 déployés dans le cadre de Baltic Air Policing sont intervenus à deux reprises le même jour sous très court préavis

✅ Réactivité maximale pour la protection du territoire de l’Alliance

✈️ Première intervention :
➡️ Prise en charge et escorte d’un… pic.twitter.com/spBtJgfFel

— Armée française - Opérations militaires (@EtatMajorFR) April 21, 2026

French military officials said the intercepted Russian formation included an IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft, strategic bombers, supersonic Tu-22 missile-carrying bombers, as well as Su-30 and Su-35 fighter jets.

In response, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the flight was planned and conducted “over neutral waters.” The ministry also acknowledged that “at certain stages of the route, long-range bombers were escorted by fighter jets of foreign states.”

By Tamilla Hasanova