#War

#Russia/World

Czech Republic and Lithuania call to shoot down Russian military planes that violate NATO countries' borders

2025.09.20

They believe that only with such an «adequate» response will Moscow realize that it has crossed the line of what is permissible and made a mistake

Russian military planes that violate the airspace of NATO countries must be shot down, stated Czech President Petr Pavel.

«I am forced to call this extremely irresponsible behavior, because violating airspace is a reason to activate defense mechanisms and, consequently, to shoot down such a plane. And no one on our side or the Russian side would want that», he said in an interview with Czech television, commenting on the violations of NATO countries' airspace by Russian drones and planes. According to the politician, with this kind of «adequate» response, Moscow will realize that it has crossed the line of what is permissible and made a mistake.

«Unfortunately, this is a matter of balancing on the brink of conflict, but you simply cannot retreat in the face of evil. Russia will behave as we allow it to», the Czech president is convinced.

In turn, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene on social network X reminded of the Russian Su-24 bomber shot down by Turkey in 2015 in the border area with Syria when commenting on the entry of three Russian fighters into Estonian airspace:

«Three Russian fighters over Tallinn are yet another undeniable proof that the „Eastern Guard“ has long arrived. NATO's northeastern border is being tested not just by chance. We need to be serious. P.S. Turkey set an example 10 years ago. Some food for thought», wrote the head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

On the morning of September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace without permission and stayed there for almost 12 minutes. After this, Estonia requested the application of NATO Article 4, which involves consultations with NATO allies in the event of a «security threat» to one of the Alliance countries.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Russian fighters did not violate Estonian airspace.

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