Russian jets violated Estonian airspace, intercepted: Nato slams ‘reckless behaviour’

Three Russian fighter aircraft violated Estonian airspace on Friday, prompting NATO jets to scramble in response, officials said. The planes entered near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland and remained for about 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian Air Force F-35s deployed under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission.

“Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond,” a NATO spokesperson said.

Estonia’s Foreign Ministry said the Russian aircraft had no flight plans, their transponders were switched off, and they did not communicate with air traffic services. Estonia summoned Moscow’s charge d’affaires and handed over a protest note following the incident.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Russia had breached Estonian airspace four times this year, but described Friday’s incursion — involving three fighter jets — as “unprecedentedly brazen.” He urged a stronger international response, saying: “Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure.”

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also condemned the episode, calling it “an extremely dangerous provocation” that “further escalates tensions in the region.”

The violation comes just over a week after NATO planes downed Russian drones over Poland, the most serious cross-border incident into a NATO member since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Other alliance countries have also reported incursions and drone crashes on their territory, stoking fears the war could spill over into NATO states.

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