Estonia summons Russian diplomat; NATO scrambled plane to intercept jets, displaying alliance means to reply.
Estonia has stated Russia violated its airspace with the incursion of three supersonic fighter jets amid heightened fears that Moscow’s battle with Ukraine might spill over into Europe’s japanese flank.
International Minister Margus Tsahkna stated on Friday that three MiG-31s entered Estonian airspace “over the Gulf of Finland” within the north for a complete of 12 minutes, including that he had summoned the cost d’affaires on the Russian embassy over the violation.
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“That is an unprecedented and brazen intrusion — clear proof of Russia’s rising aggression,” stated Tsahkna on X, saying that the motion ought to be met with “swift political and financial stress”.
In the present day @MFAestonia summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires over one other violation of Estonia’s airspace, when three Russian MiG-31s entered our airspace over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes.
That is an unprecedented and brazen intrusion — clear proof of Russia’s rising…
— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) September 19, 2025
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated the alliance had scrambled plane to intercept the Russian jets, accusing Moscow of “reckless behaviour”. The incident, she stated, had proven NATO’s “means to reply”.
The Estonian army issued a press release saying that Italian Air Pressure fighter jets collaborating within the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission stationed at Amari Airbase responded to the incident.
The three Russian fighter jets had entered nationwide airspace within the space of Vaindloo Island, positioned within the Gulf of Finland, the army stated, claiming that it was the fourth Russian incursion this 12 months.
The Russian jets didn’t have flight plans, and their transponders have been switched off, it stated.
There was no two-way radio communication with Estonian air site visitors management.
Excessive alert
Ukraine’s European neighbours have been on excessive alert since 20 Russian drones entered Poland’s airspace simply over per week in the past. The drones, which weren’t carrying ammunition, have been shot down by Polish and different NATO plane.
On Sunday, Romania’s defence ministry stated it detected a Russian drone in its airspace, scrambling fighter jets as a precaution.
Following Friday’s incursion of fighter jets into Estonia, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s high diplomat, stated that Russia’s third violation of EU airspace was “an especially harmful provocation” that “additional escalates tensions within the area”.
Kallas, who served as Estonian prime minister earlier than turning into the EU’s excessive consultant for international affairs and safety coverage final 12 months, stated the bloc stood in “full solidarity” with Estonia.
European Council President Antonio Costa stated on X that the bloc would focus on its “collective response” to Russia’s actions at a casual European Council assembly in Copenhagen on October 1.
The European Union stands firmly in solidarity with 🇪🇪.
In the present day’s violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian army plane is one other unacceptable provocation.
It underscores but once more the pressing want to strengthen our Japanese flank, deepen European defence cooperation,…
— António Costa (@eucopresident) September 19, 2025