The Estonian government announced that the incident involved three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets that flew over the Gulf of Finland on Friday for 12 minutes without permission.
Three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonian airspace on Friday, marking what appears to be the Kremlin’s third attempt this month to test NATO’s eastern frontier, Politico reports.
The Estonian military confirmed that the Russian fighter jets were intercepted by Italian F-35 aircraft based in Ämari, Estonia, as part of an air policing mission over the Baltic Sea.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that Russia has already violated Estonian airspace four times this year, „which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedented boldness.”
„The increasingly intense testing of borders and Russia’s aggression must be addressed by rapidly escalating political and economic pressure,” Tsahkna added, according to Sky News.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires „to lodge a protest,” while high-ranking EU diplomat Kaja Kallas described the incursion as „an extremely dangerous challenge,” as reported by BBC.
Romania’s Foreign Minister, Oana Țoiu, promptly condemned Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace.
„Romania condemns the violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian fighter jets. This action is irresponsible. It is what happens when an aggressor feels the cost of their war and tries to escalate to avoid this cost by any means possible. Another reason to adopt and implement the 19th sanctions package. As a member state of the EU and NATO ally and as a country facing such Russian provocations, Romania expresses its full solidarity with Estonia,” Oana Țoiu conveyed on X.
Estonia is the third NATO country to report an incursion into its airspace by Russia in recent weeks: on Sunday, Romania announced that a drone violated its airspace during a Russian attack on neighboring Ukraine.
Poland also reported an „unprecedented violation” of its airspace by dozens of Russian drones last week. Moscow denied responsibility for the incident.
The British government had previously summoned the Russian ambassador to London in response to the „absolutely unacceptable” Romanian and Polish incursions.
According to the Estonian government, in May, Russia briefly sent a fighter jet into NATO airspace above the Baltic Sea during an attempt to stop a tanker bound for Russia, believed to be part of a „shadow fleet” defying Western sanctions against Moscow.
The Russian deputy ambassador in Estonia was summoned and handed a protest note.
Friday’s incursion came shortly after Richard Moore, the head of MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service, stated that there is „absolutely no evidence” that Vladimir Putin wants to negotiate peace in Ukraine. „He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal. But he cannot succeed,” Sir Moore said.
„Frankly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he would get an easy victory. But he – and many others – have underestimated the Ukrainians,” Moore added.