The number of Russian fighters flying past Latvia has increased. But NATO is on alert
According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, on December 23, NATO fighters conducted a sortie to identify two **Su-35** fighters. These aircraft were flying in international airspace past Latvia from the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation and back with their transponders turned off and without flight plans, and they did not maintain radio communication with the Regional Air Traffic Control Center (RATCC).
On December 24, NATO fighters were scrambled to identify one **Su-24** fighter. It was reported that the aircraft was flying from the Kaliningrad region to the mainland of Russia with its transponder turned off and without a flight plan, not maintaining radio communication with the RATCC.
On the same day, December 24, NATO fighters also conducted a sortie to identify two fighters — **Su-33** and **Su-24**.
On December 26, fighters were scrambled to identify two **Su-33** and **Su-24** fighters. The aircraft were flying in international airspace from the mainland of Russia and back.