NATO Intercepts Russian Long-Range Flight Over Baltic Sea

NATO jets scrambled to intercept two Tu-22M3 strategic bombers and about 10 escort fighters over the Baltic Sea for more than four hours as part of the Baltic air-policing mission, with French Rafales from Lithuania and jets from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark and Romania monitoring the Russian flight. Moscow said the mission was planned and conducted in neutral waters in compliance with international rules. Interceptions on NATO’s eastern flank are routine, and Lithuania reported four scrambles between April 13–19 to address flight-rule violations such as transponder-off or no flight plan.