RAF jets scrambled twice in 48 hours to defend NATO airspace from Russia (2025)

The British Typhoons, stationed in Eastern Europe, were called into action less than 48 hours apart to prevent Russian aircraft from leaving their borders and entering Nato airspace

RAF fighter jets were scrambled twice in under 48 hours over Vladimir Putin's warplanes, amidst the tyrant's command for his forces to pause all military operations in Ukraine over the Easter break.

The British Typhoons, on high alert in Eastern Europe, leapt into action to block Russian aircraft from straying into Nato territory. The RAF's swift response came first on Tuesday when two Typhoons from Malbork Air Base in Poland darted to intercept a Russian surveillance plane nearing the Baltic Sea.

A mere day and a half later, another set of Typhoons zoomed off to ward off an unknown craft trying to exit the Russian stronghold of Kaliningrad, as reported by The Sunday Telegraph.

This alarming sequence of events is likely to be leveraged by the UK government to highlight Putin's escalating hostility and reinforce the argument against Donald Trump withdrawing US backing for Ukraine, reports the Mirror.

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard conveyed to The Telegraph: "The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to Nato. With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our plan for change."

He added: "This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with Nato's newest member Sweden and to defend the alliance's airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad."

For the first time, RAF jets have soared into action under Operation Chessman – Nato's latest gambit. UK warriors of the sky were dispatched to Poland to join forces with the Swedish Air Force and keep Russian threats at bay.

Just three weeks ago, these top guns from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, along with a fleet of six and 200 British squaddies, touched down to boost "NATO enhanced air policing mission" efforts.

The MoD said defence minister Lord Coaker met with Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Marcin Kosiniak-Kamysz and Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson on April 1 to "outline the UK's commitment to European security and to mark the start of the operation".

The RAF's mobilisation happened just before Putin played the peace card with an "Easter truce" in his brutal stomp through Ukraine. The Kremlin chief caught everyone off guard on Saturday when he called for a break in the onslaught from 6pm local time (4pm BST) that day till midnight on Easter Sunday (10pm BST).

Putin declared: "Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 6pm to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order all military actions to be stopped for this period."

Despite being commanded to cease fire, Russian forces kept up their assaults on Ukraine in the midst of the fleeting truce, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has charged. Speaking out on social media, he declared: "As of now, according to the Commander-in-Chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided."

Furthermore, Zelenskyy cautioned that any prospective Russian attack "will be met with an appropriate response".

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