Unauthorized Russian military aircraft intrude Estonian air territory
In a significant development, Russia has been reported to have violated Estonian airspace over the Baltic Sea. The foreign minister of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, described the incident as unprecedentedly brazen.
The violation occurred near the Baltic Sea island of Vaindloo, with the violating aircraft turning off their electronic identification and failing to make radio contact with Estonian air traffic control. The aircraft, of the type MIG-31, remained in Estonian airspace for a total of twelve minutes.
In response to this incident, the Estonian army announced the violation in Tallinn, and the Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador's representative. A protest note was handed over following the incident.
It is important to note that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania do not have their own fighter jets for securing their airspace. Instead, NATO allies, including Italy, Germany, Finland, Sweden, and others, secure the Baltic airspace in rotation. Since August 2025, Italy has been leading air policing over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, while Germany participated from March to November 2024, and Finnish jets helped intercept Russian aircraft during recent incidents.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called for a rapid increase in political and economic pressure in response to Russia's increasing border crossings and growing aggression. He emphasised the need for a united response from NATO allies to ensure the security and sovereignty of the region.
This incident marks a concerning escalation in tensions between Russia and its neighbouring NATO countries. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and is hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing standoff.
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