Concerning new information has surfaced following Russia’s breach of Estonia’s airspace on Friday (September 19).
Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets reportedly entered Estonia’s airspace for around 12 minutes. This incident occurred just a week after Russian drones were reported to have violated Polish airspace.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna commented on the situation, describing it as ‘unprecedentedly brazen’.
He stated: “Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen.
“Russia’s ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.”
EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas also weighed in on Russia’s actions through social media.
She mentioned: “Today’s violation of Estonia’s airspace by Russian military aircraft is an extremely dangerous provocation.
“This marks the third such violation of EU airspace in days and further escalates tensions in the region. The EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia.
“I am in close contact with the Estonian government.
“We will continue to support our member states in strengthening their defenses with European resources.
“Putin is testing the West’s resolve. We must not show weakness.”
Reports following the breach indicate that the jets disregarded warnings from Italian pilots flying F-35 jets.
Colonel Ants Kiviselg, the head of Estonia’s Military Intelligence Centre, commented: “Russia acknowledged communication from Italian pilots flying F-35 fighter jets, but they apparently ignored it and didn’t actually follow the signs.
“Why they didn’t do it, that’s a question for the Russian pilots.”
He further noted that the jets ‘must have known that they are in [Estonian] airspace’.
Russia has since refuted the claims of violation, asserting that its jets were over neutral Baltic waters instead of Estonian airspace.
In response to the situation, President Donald Trump remarked: “I don’t love it. I don’t like it when that happens. It could be big trouble.”
Earlier in the month, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that several drones, identified as Russian, had been intercepted after entering Polish airspace.
He stated: “Last night, the Polish airspace was violated by a huge number of Russian drones. Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down.
“I am in constant communication with the secretary general of NATO and our allies.”
After the breach of its airspace, Poland sought to invoke NATO’s Article 4, which calls for consultations among NATO members whenever the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any member is threatened.
Any NATO member can request the activation of Article 4 if there is a perceived threat to its territorial integrity, political independence, or security.