NATO forces intercepted three Russian fighter jets that violated Estonia’s airspace on Friday, in what officials described as the most serious breach to date. According to Estonia’s foreign ministry, the Russian MiG-31 aircraft entered national airspace over the Gulf of Finland without authorization and remained for 12 minutes.
Italian F-35s deployed in Estonia under NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission, supported by Swedish and Finnish aircraft, scrambled in response, forcing the Russian jets to withdraw. Prime Minister Krisen Michal confirmed Estonia will request NATO Article 4 consultations, calling the intrusion “totally unacceptable.” Estonia’s foreign ministry also summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires.
Poland reported a related incident the same day, when two Russian jets conducted a low-altitude pass over a Petrobaltic oil platform in the Baltic Sea. Polish authorities said security services were closely monitoring the situation.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna labeled the breach “unprecedentedly brazen,” noting it was the fourth violation this year. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the alliance’s swift response, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the provocation as a major escalation.
The incident follows a series of Russian airspace violations across NATO’s eastern flank, fueling calls for stronger defenses and fresh sanctions against Moscow.
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