High tension in the Baltics, 3 Russian planes fly for 12 minutes over Estonia, NATO planes take off

2025-09-19 17:50:23Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
High tension in the Baltics, 3 Russian planes fly for 12 minutes over Estonia,
Illustrative photo

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace on Friday. The Estonian government announced that the planes remained in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes.

It is also reported that they moved about 8 kilometers into the airspace towards Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.

The incursion occurred this morning near Vaidlo Island, a small island in the middle of the Gulf of Finland.

Fox, citing NATO sources, reported that the Russian fighter jets were carrying Kinzhal ballistic missiles.

High tension in the Baltics, 3 Russian planes fly for 12 minutes over Estonia,

Italian F-35 jets stationed in the country took to the air to intercept them.

The incident comes just 10 days after Russian drones entered Polish airspace.

"Today, several Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO reacted immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. This is another example of Russia's reckless behavior and the Allies' ability to respond," a NATO spokesman said.

Last week, another Russian drone crossed into Romanian airspace and flew there for a while, despite fighter jets taking to the air to intercept it.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian charge d'affaires to the country to present a note of protest regarding the violation of airspace.

"Russia has already violated Estonian airspace four times this year. But today's incursion, involving three fighter jets entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly violent," said the country's Foreign Minister, Margūs Čakna.

"Russia's increasing efforts to test its borders and its growing aggression must be met with a rapid intensification of political and economic pressure," he added.

Meanwhile, Estonia is considering the possibility of using NATO's Article 4, as Poland did a few days ago.


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