On February 3, NATO air police fighters identified a refueling aircraft IL-78 traveling from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad region. This aircraft was operating without an active transponder and lacked a flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the Regional Flight Management Center (RFMC). This incident highlights ongoing concerns over Russian military aircraft operating near NATO airspace without adhering to established protocols.

On February 6, NATO fighters were again dispatched to identify a tactical reconnaissance aircraft SU-24MR and a fighter aircraft SU-27, which were also flying between mainland Russia and back without active transponders and flight plans, and did not maintain radio communications with the RFMC. Such activities raise alarms about the safety and security of air operations in the region, as unmonitored flights can pose risks to other aircraft and can be considered provocative.

On February 8, a second IL-78 refueling aircraft was identified, again flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad without an active transponder but maintaining communication with RFMC. The NATO air policing mission in the Baltic states, conducted from Lithuania and Estonia, is crucial for monitoring and ensuring airspace security amidst increasing tensions with Russia. These instances underscore the importance of vigilance and readiness from NATO forces in the face of unregulated military activities in close proximity to their borders.