Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated the airspace of NATO member Estonia over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, September 19, and remained there 12 minutes, Tallinn said. The alleged incursion comes at a moment of increased tension on NATO's eastern border, after Poland last week complained that around 20 Russian drones overflew its territory. Moscow denied Poland was targeted.
Russia is fighting a war in Ukraine and often tests Western air defenses, but Estonia complained that the sorties have become more provocative in recent months.
"Russia has already violated Estonia's airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today's incursion... is unprecedentedly brazen," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. "Russia's increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure," he said. Estonia's defense ministry also confirmed the incursion.
The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas accused Moscow of an "extremely dangerous provocation." Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, warned on X that the latest Russian violation on NATO's eastern rim "further escalates tensions in the region", adding that "the EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia."
This is a developing story.