On Friday, NATO successfully intercepted three Russian jets that violated Estonia's airspace, as confirmed by the country's foreign ministry and a spokesperson from the alliance. The incident involved three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets that entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission, remaining there for a total of 12 minutes, according to the Estonian foreign ministry.
In response to the unauthorized intrusion, Italian F-35 fighters stationed in Estonia as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry operation, alongside Swedish and Finnish aircraft, were deployed to address the situation. NATO’s Allied Command Operations headquarters confirmed the engagement, highlighting the swift response from allied forces. Estonian Prime Minister Krisen Michal stated that the Russian jets were “forced to flee” after the military response.
Following this “totally unacceptable” violation, Prime Minister Michal announced that Estonia would request NATO Article 4 consultations, a provision that allows member states to bring any issue affecting their security before the alliance. The Estonian foreign ministry also summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires to discuss the incident, indicating the seriousness with which the government is treating this breach of national sovereignty.
Hours later, Poland's border guard reported another incident involving two Russian fighter jets performing a “low-level pass” over an oil platform in the Baltic Sea owned by the Polish oil company Petrobaltic. The border guard assured that “Polish security services are constantly monitoring the situation,” underscoring the heightened vigilance among NATO member states in light of these provocations.
These recent violations mark the latest in a series of airspace incursions by Russian jets and drones, raising alarms among NATO members. “Russia has already violated Estonia’s airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen,” remarked Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. He further emphasized the need for a swift increase in political and economic pressure on Russia in response to its “increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness.”
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart characterized the airspace violation as “yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond.” The incident drew condemnation from the European Union as well, with the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, calling it an “extremely dangerous provocation.” Kallas noted that this was the third violation of EU airspace in just days and emphasized that the EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia.
In light of these provocations, the European Commission proposed a new round of sanctions against Russia, with President Ursula von der Leyen urging EU states to approve measures that would increase pressure on Moscow. “We will respond to every provocation with determination while investing in a stronger Eastern flank. As threats escalate, so too will our pressure,” von der Leyen stated on X.
The violation of Estonian airspace is part of a troubling pattern, as Russian drones have also breached the airspaces of Poland and Romania earlier this month. This prompted NATO allies to bolster defenses on the alliance’s eastern flank. Notably, NATO fighter jets recently shot down multiple Russian drones over Polish airspace during an attack on neighboring Ukraine, marking the first time NATO fired shots since the onset of the war in Ukraine. The military alliance condemned Moscow for its “absolutely dangerous” behavior.
Additionally, on Sunday, Romania's airspace was violated by a Russian drone, leading Bucharest to scramble F-16 jets. Although the pilots came close to downing the drone, they ultimately decided against firing due to potential collateral risks. Romania's foreign minister summoned the Russian ambassador, Vladimir Lipaev, to address the incident, further reflecting the escalating tensions in the region.
