Russia maintains its position of not infringing upon Estonian aerial boundaries.
In a series of events that have raised tensions in the Baltic Sea, Russia and NATO have found themselves at odds over a sequence of incidents involving drones and fighter jets.
Last week, more than 20 Russian drones were reported to have entered Polish airspace, sparking concerns among NATO allies. This week, the focus shifted to Estonia, where an incident near Vaindloo, an island in the Baltic Sea, unfolded.
The details of the incident remain unclear, but what is known is that NATO jets shot down some of the Russian drones, and three Russian fighter jets, including MiG-31s, reportedly entered Estonia's airspace. The specific identities of the pilots have not been publicly disclosed, but Estonian and NATO sources have confirmed their presence and the violation of Estonian airspace for about twelve minutes.
The Russian jets, according to Moscow, did not deviate from the agreed flight route, leading over neutral waters more than three kilometers north of Vaindloo. However, Estonia claims the jets did not follow regulations during the incident, with the Russian MiG-31s flying over the Petrobaltic platform at a height of 150 meters.
Russia denies Estonia's claims, stating the flight was in accordance with international airspace rules. The statements from Russia could not be independently verified.
Estonia has requested consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, a provision that allows for consultations with allies if a country feels threatened from the outside. The security zone above the Polish drilling platform was also violated, as two Russian fighter jets approached the platform at low altitude on Friday evening.
Estonia and Poland have spoken about the reported violations of regulations, with both countries expressing concerns over the incidents. The reported violations lasted for a total of twelve minutes, a duration that has added to the unease among NATO allies.
As the situation continues to develop, both Russia and NATO will need to address these incidents and work towards maintaining peace and stability in the region.
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