Event 483

{
  "border_violation_countries": [
    "BSR",
    "Air"
  ],
  "category": "Uncategorized",
  "confidence": "Low",
  "confidence_rationale": "The event is supported by multiple annotated flight radar images showing the Il-22M’s flight path, proximity to NATO airspace, and by analyst commentary. The behavior fits a known pattern of signaling/intelligence flights.",
  "countries": [
    "Russia",
    "Lithuania"
  ],
  "country": "Russia",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "A Russian Ministry of Defence Il-22M aircraft, likely a command and control platform, was tracked flying over the Kaliningrad region. According to open-source flight tracking, the aircraft approached NATO/EU airspace and performed maneuvers parallel to the Lithuanian border, interpreted by analysts as a signal to NATO. The event occurred on July 22, 2024 and included tactical flights and a pattern of intelligence-gathering behavior near restricted Baltic airspace.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-07-29T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Flight radar paths showing Il-22M approaches NATO/EU border.",
    "Analyst notes explicitly referencing intelligence/signaling behavior."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "Il-22M (RA-75910) flying from Chkalovsky to Kaliningrad region. This one is a C2/relay/broadcast platform.",
    "As it gets closer to Kaliningrad, it flies parallel to NATO/EU border. Messaging - 'we are here, come and get us if you like'.",
    "It flies a racetrack pattern, staying carefully on the RU side of the border."
  ],
  "evidence_urls": [
    "https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1817874395005649057.html"
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "Flight radar paths showing Il-22M approaches NATO/EU border.",
            "Analyst notes explicitly referencing intelligence/signaling behavior."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "follow_up_by_country": [],
  "follow_up_notes": "NATO Surveying PASSEX. RQ-4 drone conducts surveillance over ??Gulf of Finland",
  "headline": "Russian Il-22M aircraft performs intelligence maneuvers near Lithuania’s border",
  "location_text": "Kaliningrad region, near Lithuanian border",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_483_1763928416_6b8d95ed.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "US/NATO ISR Surveying PASSEX. RQ-4 drone conducts surveillance over ??Gulf of Finland",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "sources": [
    "https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1817874395005649057.html"
  ],
  "summary_short": "Russian Il-22M conducted border maneuvers near Lithuania, interpreted as signaling and intelligence activity toward NATO.",
  "url": "https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1817874395005649057.html"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "",
  "Attack Type": "",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "BSR Air",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "FI",
  "Date": "29-Jul-24",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1817874395005649057.html",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "NATO Surveying PASSEX. RQ-4 drone conducts surveillance over ??Gulf of Finland",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "US/NATO ISR Surveying PASSEX. RQ-4 drone conducts surveillance over ??Gulf of Finland",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}