Brussels (EFE).- NATO stated Friday it “responded immediately and intercepted” three Russian fighter jets that violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes.
“Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft,” said the Alliance spokesperson Allison Hart, adding that “this is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond.”
According to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Baltic States, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace on Friday. They remained in the air for almost 12 minutes over the Estonian island of Vaindloo in the Gulf of Finland.
The Estonian Ministry of Defense indicated that Italian Air Force F-35 fighter jets, currently deployed at Ämari air base as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission, “responded to the incident.”
The Russian aircraft had no flight plans, their transponders were off, and they did not maintain two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic services at the time of the airspace violation.
On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised that the European Union would respond to every Russian provocation.
“Europe stands with Estonia in the face of Russia’s latest violation of our airspace. We will respond to every provocation with determination while investing in a stronger Eastern flank. As threats escalate, so too will our pressure,” von der Leyen posted on X.
She also urged EU countries to swiftly approve the 19th package of sanctions against Moscow since the beginning of the war.
The package proposes banning imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia starting in 2027, as well as further measures against ships and refineries that circumvent sanctions on Russian oil.
This incident occurred 10 days after 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace, forcing NATO to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles in allied territory for the first time, and six days after Russian drones entered Romanian airspace. EFE
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