ŠIAULIAI AIR BASE, Lithuania (AP) — NATO intercepted Russian strategic bombers and fighter jets that flew over the Baltic Sea on Monday, a muscular display of air power on the alliance’s eastern flank away from the spotlight on the Middle East.
French Rafale fighters were deployed from a Lithuanian air base where they are stationed as part of a decades-long NATO air-policing effort. The fighters armed with air-to-air missiles joined jets from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark and Romania. They all took to the skies to inspect and keep watch on the Russian flight, the French detachment said.
The Russian mission included two supersonic Tu-22M3s, as well as about 10 fighters — both SU-30s and SU-35s — that took turns escorting the larger strategic bombers, according to the statement.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the long-range bombers' flight was scheduled and occurred in airspace over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea. The flight took more than four hours, the ministry said Monday on Telegram.
“At certain stages of the route, the long-range bombers were accompanied by fighters of foreign states,” the ministry said. “Crews of long-range aviation regularly conduct flights over the neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Baltic and Black Seas. All flights of Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft are carried out in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace.”
The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. It often reports flights by its strategic bombers over the Baltic Sea, including in January — when NATO jets also flew up to meet them — and at least four times last year.
NATO’s Allied Air Command also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
The military alliance routinely scrambles fighter aircraft to intercept Russian warplanes that approach or fly near NATO airspace. NATO says the Russian planes it intercepts often fail to use their transponders and don't communicate with air traffic controllers or file a flight plan. NATO jets are sent up to identify them.
Many of the Russian flights that NATO monitors with its Baltic air policing mission, in place since Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joined the alliance in 2004, are to and from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Even before the war in Ukraine, NATO was intercepting Russian planes around 300 times each year, mostly over waters around northern Europe.
A journalist from The Associated Press witnessed the French detachment's response on Monday from the sprawling Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. NATO uses the base for fighter patrols that police the skies on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Two French Rafale fighter jets’ two-man crews — a pilot and a navigator — were seen racing in two vans to the planes’ hangars from the headquarters building the French detachment uses during its four-month deployment on the air base.
The crews were already suited up because they’d been on standby, so they would be ready to take to the air within minutes if scrambled.
The two crews quickly took their places in their planes’ cockpits. They were then put on hold, with the planes’ jet engines ignited, until they got the order to take off. Then they taxied out of their hangars and roared off into the clear skies.
Monday's flight was the latest in Russia's maneuvers over the Baltic Sea.
Lithuania's defense ministry said NATO jets were scrambled four times from April 13-19 to intercept Russian aircraft that violated flight rules that included turning off flight transponders and flying without a flight plan.
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Stefanie Dazio in Berlin and Kostya Manenkov in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
In this photo, provided by the French Army on Monday, April 20, 2026, a Russian supersonic Tu-22M3 strategic bomber flies over the Baltic Sea. (Etat-Major des Armees via AP)
In this photo, provided by the French Army on Monday, April 20, 2026, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet flies over the Baltic Sea. (Etat-Major des Armees via AP)
There was a 14-point comeback win by Atlanta in New York, and a 19-point comeback win by Minnesota in Denver.
And it's unanimous: Victor Wembanyama is pretty good at defense.
Monday had some drama, and the NBA playoffs already seem to be in full swing. Through the first three days, three lower-seeded teams have already stolen home-court advantage away — Orlando did it in Detroit on Sunday, and then the Hawks and Timberwolves did the same on Monday.
Tuesday's schedule features three games: Philadelphia at Boston, Portland at San Antonio — where Wembanyama will be announced as Defensive Player of the Year for the first time — and Houston at the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics, Spurs and Lakers all lead those series 1-0.
— Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105 to take 2-0 series lead. Cleveland's Big 3 scores 83.
— Hawks 107, Knicks 106 to tie series 1-1. CJ McCollum got the last word at MSG.
— Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114 to tie series 1-1. Jaden McDaniels had thoughts.
— Warriors bracing for Kerr's possible departure
— NBA individual awards finalists are announced
— Some news and notes going into the postseason
— Playoff preview: Thunder seeking another title
— Heat equipment manager needs organ transplants
— Natalie Sago the 3rd female ref picked for playoffs
— The view from Vegas says the West is the best
Awards season in the NBA started Monday with some history — At 22, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama is the youngest Defensive Player of the Year, and the first to win the award in a unanimous vote.
The finalists were unveiled Sunday night, led by the top three in the MVP voting — reigning winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, three-time winner Nikola Jokic of Denver and Wembanyama, a first-time finalist.
The schedule for announcements:
— Tuesday, Clutch Player (6 p.m. EDT, Peacock/NBCSN). Finalists: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City; Jamal Murray, Denver.
— Wednesday, Sixth Man (6 p.m. EDT, ESPN). Finalists: Tim Hardaway Jr., Denver; Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami; Keldon Johnson, San Antonio.
— Thursday, Sportsmanship Award (Noon EDT, https://x.com/NBAPR).
— Friday, Most Improved Player (6:30 p.m. EDT, Prime). Finalists: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta; Deni Avdija, Portland; Jalen Duren, Detroit.
And the announcements that won’t be until next week, at the earliest:
— MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio.
— Coach of the Year: J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit; Mitch Johnson, San Antonio; Joe Mazzulla, Boston.
— Rookie of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia; Cooper Flagg, Dallas; Kon Knueppel, Charlotte.
7 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Philadelphia at Boston (Peacock/NBCSN)
8 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Portland at San Antonio (NBC/Peacock)
10:30 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Houston at LA Lakers (NBC/Peacock)
7 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Orlando at Detroit (ESPN)
9:30 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Phoenix at Oklahoma City (ESPN)
7 p.m. EDT — Game 3, New York at Atlanta (Prime Video)
8 p.m. EDT — Game 3, Cleveland at Toronto (Prime Video)
9:30 p.m. EDT — Game 3, Denver at Minnesota (Prime Video)
Defending champion Oklahoma City (+110) is favored to win the NBA title, according to oddsmakers.
The Thunder are followed by San Antonio (+475), Boston (+600), Denver (+1200), Cleveland (+1400), Detroit (+2200) and New York (+3000).
— May 2, 3 or 4: Conference semifinals begin.
— May 10: NBA draft lottery.
— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.
— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.
— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.
— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).
— June 23: Round 1, NBA draft
— June 24: Round 2, NBA draft
— “It felt like that was it. It really felt like that was it. Is it? I don’t know. Like I said, I hope not. But for some reason, it just felt like that was it. And man, if it was, what a run it’s been.” — Draymond Green, speaking on the future of Golden State coach Steve Kerr, on “The Draymond Green Show.”
— "I ain't no villain.” — Hawks guard CJ McCollum, after fans in New York booed him throughout Game 2 of Atlanta's win in that series.
— Over the last 30 years, Denver is 34-2 in playoff games where it has built a lead of 18 or more points. The two losses are both against Minnesota — and both at home, too. The Wolves rallied from 20 down to win Game 7 of the West semifinals in 2024, then rallied from 19 down on Monday.
— Speaking of Wolves-Nuggets, the teams have gone 15-15 against one another in their last 30 games. Average score of those games: Wolves 113, Nuggets 111.
— Jamal Murray made a 51-foot 3-pointer for Denver on Monday night. It was the longest make in a playoff game since ... Jamal Murray made a 55-footer in 2024.
— Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell has scored 30 or more points in each of his last three playoff games, going back to last season. That's the longest-active streak among players in these playoffs.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks to his son guard Bronny James during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and forward Tristan da Silva (23) celebrate after a win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the against the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) lies on the court during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer watches in the closing minutes of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks to make a pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
