Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without authorization on a recent Friday, remaining in the airspace for approximately 12 minutes. The incident was confirmed by NATO, which stated that its forces intercepted the aircraft.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry characterized the incursion as serious, leading to the summoning of the Russian chargé d’affaires to protest the violation. In a statement, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna noted that this was an unprecedented act and highlighted Russia’s increasing aggressiveness in testing boundaries. It was also mentioned that this marks the fourth violation of Estonian airspace by Russian military aircraft in 2025.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart described the interception as a necessary and timely response to what has been perceived as reckless behavior by Russia, although she provided no additional details. The Russian military has not issued a public statement regarding this incident.
Tensions between NATO and Russia have been rising, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Recent events have compounded these tensions, with Poland and Romania reporting violations of their airspace by Russian drones. Reports indicate that Poland shot down three Russian drones, while Belarus claimed that drones entering Polish airspace were due to navigational issues rather than intentional aggression. In Romania, a Russian drone was detected but later disappeared from radar.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas reinforced the need for a robust defense strategy in response to these provocations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, asserting that the EU would maintain pressure in light of escalating threats, indicating a commitment to strengthening defenses in Eastern Europe.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrp6p5mj3zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss