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French Jets Intercept 11 Russian Aircraft Over Baltics

6/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

French officials said the 11 interceptions this week show Moscow testing its reach at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
French warplanes scrambled 11 times to intercept Russian fighter, intelligence and transport aircraft over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that lacked flight plans or radio contact.
NATO Baltic Air Policing mission rotates jets to protect Baltic states as drone incursions heighten fears of the Ukraine war spilling over NATO’s northern border.

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Story summary

French officials said the 11 interceptions this week show Moscow testing its reach at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
French warplanes scrambled 11 times to intercept Russian fighter, intelligence and transport aircraft over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that lacked flight plans or radio contact.
NATO Baltic Air Policing mission rotates jets to protect Baltic states as drone incursions heighten fears of the Ukraine war spilling over NATO’s northern border.