On February 16, NATO fighters were deployed to identify a Russian reconnaissance aircraft, IL-20M, and a Su-30 fighter jet. The Russian aircraft were operating without transponders and flight plans and communicated with the Regional Flight Control Center (RSVC). This incident is part of a pattern of Russian military flights in the area that have drawn NATO's attention and response.

On February 19, NATO jets again took to the skies to identify two Su-24M attack aircraft, which had similar operational characteristics: no active transponders, no flight plans, and no radio communication. This lack of communication and identification protocols raises safety concerns in the airspace over the Baltic Sea, which is heavily monitored by NATO as part of its air policing mission in the region.

The NATO air policing mission in the Baltic states, conducted from Lithuania and Estonia, has become increasingly vital amid escalating tensions between NATO and Russia. The repeated interceptions of Russian aircraft underscore the ongoing geopolitical friction and the need for vigilance in ensuring airspace security in the region.