Estonia summoned a Russian diplomat to protest after three Russian fighter aircraft entered its airspace without permission Friday, September 19, 2025, “and stayed there for 12 minutes.”
Estonian Foreign Minister, Margus Tsakhna said that Russia violated Estonian airspace four times this year “but today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen.”
Tsakhna said that Russia’s increasingly “extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure.”
Estonia’s foreign ministry disclosed in a statement that the Russian charge d’affaires was summoned and given a protest note.
The Russian MIG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace in the area of Vaindloo Island, a small island located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the Estonian military said in a separate statement.
The aircraft did not have flight plans and their transponders were turned off, the statement said, nor were the aircraft in two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic services.
Italian Air Force F-35 fighter jets, currently deployed as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission, responded to the incident, according to the statement.
NATO fighter jets scramble hundreds of times most years to intercept aircraft, many of them Russian warplanes in northwest Europe flying too close to the airspace of its member countries, but it’s rarer for planes to cross the boundary.
Dozens of NATO jets are on round-the-clock alert across Europe to respond to incidents such as unannounced military flights or civilian planes losing communication with air-traffic controllers.
The incursion came just over a week after NATO planes downed Russian drones over Poland and heightened fears that the war in Ukraine could spill over.
Russia’s violation of Poland’s airspace was the most serious cross-border incident into a NATO member country since the war in Ukraine began with Russia’s all-out invasion in February 2022. Other alliance countries have reported similar incursions and drone crashes on their territory.
Estonia, along with other Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia, are seen as being among the most likely targets if Russia one day decides to risk an attack on NATO. Neighboring Poland, though much larger, also feels vulnerable. All four countries are staunch supporters of Ukraine.
Russian Incursion Into Estonia’s Airspace Decried
The European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas called the incursion “an extremely dangerous provocation” that “further escalates tensions in the region.”
Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Kęstutis Budrys warned that Russia directly threatens Euroatlantic security and tests NATO’s limits.
“Today, 3 Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace. These provocations will only escalate until the Alliance fully transforms Baltic air policing into Baltic air defence, rotational air defense models become a reality and Eastern Sentry comes up and running 24/7.
“These are not accidents. The Alliance is being tested militarily. We must sharpen Nato’s posture to the point where no one dares to test our deterrence. Lithuania stands in full solidarity with our ally Estonia.”
Kęstutis Budrys
Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson said that the Russian incursion into Estonian airspace showed “the seriousness of the Russian threat to European security,” also warning that Nato’s readiness is “constantly being tested.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha also said in his statement that the incursion of three Russian fighter jets into Estonian airspace is “another Russian escalation and a direct threat to transatlantic security.” He added that Ukraine stands with Estonia in the face of Russia’s reckless intimidation.
“Russia must face crushing political and economic pressure. As long as it doesn’t get a really strong response, Moscow will only get more arrogant and aggressive. It’s time to put an end to Putin’s sense of impunity.”
Andrii Sybiha
Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala also warned that “Russia is further escalating tensions on NATO’s eastern border and testing how far it can go.”
He added that the violation of Estonian airspace demonstrates the aggression of Putin’s regime, urging the alliance to “resolutely strengthen our defence capabilities.”
European Council President, António Costa said that the EU leaders will discuss “collective response to Russia’s action” at the upcoming informal European Council meeting in Copenhagen on 1 October.
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