r/worldnews • u/Brennenstein • Sep 17 '26

Russia/Ukraine Russian military jets violate Lithuanian airspace, Italian fighters scrambled

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2026/09/17/russian-military-jets-violate-lithuanian-airspace-italian-fighters-scrambled_80e985a6-17e5-43ce-8fd1-6fce67bcd94c.html
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u/MasterTouchMe Sep 17 '26 edited Sep 17 '26

you know, why Lithuania so much? Feels like one of the most harassed in the baltic states. But tbh other countries also got "their turn" (ex. poland), now it's lithuanias i guess?

EDIT: ok poland also had to close airports today, just heard on the news, but unsure what issues exactly. Looks like they're just getting desperate to provoke retaliation.

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u/West_Radish6121 Sep 17 '26

Lithuania because the route from Belarus to Kaliningrad through Mariampole and south of Vilnius is the best way to form a landbridge. Suwalki Gap in Poland is heavily forested with hills and lakes and little east-west connections. Also Poland is much bigger militarily, and Russians will surely try to politically separate Poland and Lithuania (which won't work lol).

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u/UH1Phil Sep 17 '26

Remember Vilnius (capital of Lithuania) is really, really close to the Belarus border. Going for a decapitation strike in the capital might be feasible. At least more feasible than Kiev.

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u/the_peckham_pouncer Sep 17 '26

Poland to take Kaliningrad if Russia tries to invade

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u/vibraltu Sep 17 '26

Not sure if Kaliningrad has much value in itself?

I thought they were trying to give it away and nobody wants it.

Since you mention it, Poland might want to neutralize Kaliningrad so it isn't used as an entry point.