Hungarian fighter jets were alerted early in the morning for an unidentified aircraft. The Jas-Gripen fighter aircraft identified the Russian IL-76 flying south over the Baltic Sea in accordance with international procedures, then returned to the Siauliai air base in Lithuania, Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on his Facebook page.
He added:
The Hungarian Air Force has once again demonstrated its readiness.”
As the minister recalled in his post, the Hungarian Defense Forces is the leading group – together with Germany, the Czech Republic, and Italy, under NATO command – in air policing tasks in the Baltic countries for four months from August 1st, with almost 80 soldiers and four Gripen fighter jets. This is a major contribution to the security of the region.
Meanwhile, Estonian politicians have criticized Hungary’s attitude towards the Russian-Ukrainian war. As a result, Estonia’s Ambassador to Hungary, Raul Toomas, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade over “unacceptable” remarks by Estonian politicians criticizing Hungary.
As Tamás Menczer, State Secretary in Charge of Bilateral Relations, said:
…criticism coming from politicians of a country whose airspace is also protected by Hungarian soldiers and Hungarian aircraft is strange, as Hungary has participated in the defense of Estonia’s airspace on numerous occasions.”
He added that Hungarian armed forces are currently on a mission in Estonia and are now working for the security of the Baltic country.
Featured photo: MTI/Bús Csaba