Vilnius: Three Russian military aircraft violated NATO members’ Estonian airspace for 12 minutes on Friday, amid an “unprecedented bravery” invasion, which its government said was the latest coalition operation in a series of recent military operations.
Just a week after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace from the evening of September 9 to 10, NATO sent some NATO aircraft to some of them and Western officials that Russia was testing the coalition’s preparation and determination.
This also happened three days after Russia and Belarus concluded their joint military exercises, which included rehearsals for launching Russian nuclear weapons.
Estonia said three MIG-31 fighters entered the airspace without permission and stayed there for 12 minutes, during which the high-speed aircraft could have traveled extensively in the country.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahka said: “Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violations, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedented.”
“The growing Russian border and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressures.”
Russian jets often fly across the Baltic Sea between the Russian mainland and its excellent in the Kaliningrad, where the Russian Baltic fleet is located.
Polish guards said two Russian fighters violated the safety zone of the Baltic Sea drilling platform.
A spokesperson said on X: “Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted Russian aircraft. This is another example of the reckless Russian behavior and Natos’ ability to respond.”
We have little to say
Washington has nothing to say about last week’s drone invasion of Poland and has not been directly involved in defending the measure, which has sparked deep anxiety among NATO members, who questioned Trump’s commitment to defense in the Russian attack.
Europeans soon responded to Friday’s Russian jet incident. “It’s not accidental,” Kaja Kallas, former Estonian Prime Minister, said in a comment from a spokesperson.
Estonia said it had summoned the country’s top Russian diplomats to protest and issue bills.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country has decided to ask NATO to consult under Article 4 of the Union Treaty and to fly Russian jets about 5 nautical miles (9 kilometers) into NATO airspace before Italian F-35s, which is now being launched.
Article 4 states that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be threatened in the view of any person, their territory, political independence or security.
Ukraine called the invasion a “direct threat to transatlantic security” and said it was with Estonia’s representative. “Russia must face political and economic pressures,” Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.com.
“No accident”
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Cestutis Budrys said Russia is testing NATO’s limitations. “These are not accidents. The coalition is testing military. We have to share NATO’s posture so that no one dares to test our deterrence.”
Andris Spruds, the defense minister of neighboring Latvia, condemned the Russian invasion, which he said emphasized the need to strengthen the eastern side defense. “The airspace protection of the Baltic Sea must be further strengthened,” Spruds said in an article on social media platform X.
In New York, Russian United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he was not aware of the incident, but added: “I don’t believe Estonia’s evaluation of Russia.” When telling about Estonia’s allegations that Russia had sent jets into the airspace, Nibenzia said: “How tragic.”
No flight plan
The Estonian Defense Forces said the airspace violation occurred on Friday morning in the Vandelu Island area, about 100 kilometers from the capital Tallinn.
Estonia said the planes had no flight plans, their transponders were not turned on and had no contact with air traffic control.
Although Russian aircraft invasions on Vendelu are common, they are used in normal circumstances in the event on Friday. “It’s hard to see this is not intentional,” said a U.S. official.
The official noted that it was difficult to see many Russian planes unaware that they had been in Estonian airspace for so long, but added that a deeper assessment was underway.
Jakub M. Godzimirski, a research professor of Russian security policy at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, told Reuters that the incident could be a test, but it could also be accidental.
Posted at Dawn on September 20, 2025
