In Lithuania, After Provocation Against Estonia, Reminded How Turkey Shot Down Russian Su-24

• 19.09.2025, 22:53

"NATO countries need to be decisive."

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovitė Šakaliene recalled after violating Estonian airspace how Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber in 2015 that did not respond to warnings.

As "European Pravda" reports, she wrote about it on X.

Schakaliene said the incident with the Russian fighter jets is "another strong indication" of the need for NATO's Operation Eastern Guardian to step up patrols on its eastern flank.

"NATO's northeastern border is being tested for a reason. We must be resolute," she added.

In her post, the Lithuanian defense minister also wrote that "Turkey set an example 10 years ago," calling it "food for thought."

The incident in question is the November 2015 incident in which Turkey shot down a Russian (in Putin's version, "defenseless") Su-24 bomber over Syria.

According to Turkish authorities, the Russian plane did not respond to warnings and was shot down to protect Turkey's sovereignty. Putin then called the incident "a stab in the back by terrorist accomplices."

Ankara-Moscow relations deteriorated afterward and began to improve after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized.