Military aircraft from Russia allegedly breached Estonian airspace, prompting a response from NATO
In a surprising development on September 19, 2021, three MiG-31 fighter jets from the Russian Air Force infiltrated Estonian airspace along the Baltic coast over the Gulf of Finland. The jets, which originated from a base in northwestern Russia and headed towards the Russian exclave Kaliningrad, crossed approximately 10 kilometers into Estonian territory.
The intrusion, which lasted for approximately 12 minutes, was met with a swift response from NATO. NATO fighters from Italy escorted the Russian jets out of Estonian airspace. Following the incident, the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the UK stands with its Estonian allies after the "reckless incursion into NATO airspace."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also condemned the incursion, calling it "unacceptable" and a "systematic Russian campaign against Europe, against NATO, against the West." EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged a firm response, stating that the EU will respond to every provocation with determination and invest in a stronger Eastern flank.
The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the Russian military claimed that the flight was scheduled and conducted in strict accordance with airspace rules. The UK had previously summoned the Russian ambassador in London in response to similar incursions in Romania and Poland.
The Estonian government confirmed the incident, stating that the Russian MiG-31 fighter jets flew near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland without permission. The Swedish military also released images of a Russian fighter jet over the Baltic Sea after it had left Estonian airspace.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested that Russia has launched an information campaign against Finland, with echoes of how it built up to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. High-ranking Kremlin officials have reportedly increased threats against Finland in recent weeks, according to the ISW.
The incident comes amidst a series of airspace violations by Russia this year. In May, Russia briefly sent a fighter jet into NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea during an attempt to stop a Russian-bound oil tanker thought to be part of a "shadow fleet" defying Western sanctions on Moscow. Poland also reported an "unprecedented violation" of its airspace by more than a dozen Russian drones last week.
In response to the latest incident, Estonia requested an Article 4 consultation, which allows NATO members to formally bring an issue to the attention of the North Atlantic Council. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart announced that the council will convene early next week to discuss the incident in more detail. The EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia and will continue to support its member states in strengthening their defenses with European resources.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the latest violation as unprecedentedly brazen, marking a concerning escalation in tensions between Russia and its Western neighbours. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labelled the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian military aircraft as an extremely dangerous provocation.
As the international community continues to grapple with Russia's aggressive actions, concerns about Putin's intentions and the testing of the West's resolve persist.
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