Estonia and its allies have strongly condemned a recent Russian air incursion, where three Russian MiG-31 fighters allegedly violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The incident occurred on Friday, prompting swift action from NATO, which scrambled Italian F-35 fighters to intercept the Russian jets and warn them off. Estonia’s defense forces reported that the Russian fighter jets entered the country’s airspace without permission, remaining there for approximately 12 minutes without flight plans, transponders, or two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control.
The incident has sparked significant concern and tension, with NATO spokesperson Allison Hart labeling it “yet another example of reckless Russian behavior and NATO’s ability to respond.” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed that “as threats escalate, so too will our pressure,” highlighting the EU’s commitment to increasing sanctions against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the incursion as “unprecedentedly brazen” and called for a swift increase in political and economic pressure on Russia.
This recent incident is part of a larger pattern of escalating tensions along NATO’s eastern border. Poland recently complained about around 20 Russian drones overflying its territory, and Romania reported a similar incursion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately expanding its destabilizing activities with these airspace violations. In response to the incident, Estonia has requested NATO Article 4 consultations, which allow member countries to convene urgent talks when they feel their territorial integrity, political independence, or security is at risk.
