Tallinn: Estonia has accused Russia of a serious breach of its sovereignty after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets allegedly crossed into its airspace on Friday, prompting Tallinn to file a formal diplomatic protest and demand urgent consultations with NATO allies.
According to Estonia’s defence authorities, the three aircraft penetrated approximately five nautical miles about nine kilometres into Estonian territory near Vaindloo Island, a remote outpost in the Baltic Sea located around 100 kilometres from the capital, Tallinn. The jets reportedly spent nearly 12 minutes inside Estonia’s airspace before turning back. Officials described the manoeuvre as highly unusual because the Russian aircraft were flying without transponders, had no filed flight plan, and did not make contact with Estonian air traffic controllers.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the move as an “unprecedentedly brazen violation” of Estonia’s sovereignty. He confirmed that Tallinn had lodged a diplomatic note with Moscow and activated consultations with its NATO partners under Article 4 of the alliance’s charter, which allows members to seek urgent discussions whenever they feel their security or territorial integrity is under threat.
Moscow, however, has dismissed Estonia’s allegations. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that its aircraft were carrying out a routine mission over “neutral waters” of the Baltic Sea and that their flight paths were “in strict conformity with international rules.” Officials in Moscow denied any deviation into Estonian territory, calling Tallinn’s claims “provocative and unfounded.”
NATO quickly weighed in, labelling the incident another instance of “reckless Russian behaviour.” A spokesperson stressed that the alliance had detected the breach and remained ready to respond to any threat against its members. The European Union also took a firm stance, with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas herself an Estonian stating that the incursion was deliberate and not an accident. Lithuania and other Baltic neighbours urged immediate reinforcement of NATO’s air defence shield along the eastern frontier.
The latest episode comes just days after Russia and Belarus concluded their Zapad-2025 military exercises, which featured nuclear strike simulations and triggered unease across Europe. It also follows a separate incident earlier this month when more than 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace, sparking NATO interceptions and fuelling fears that Moscow is testing the alliance’s readiness.
For Estonia and its Baltic neighbours, such violations are more than routine irritations. As NATO’s front line bordering both mainland Russia and the heavily militarised Kaliningrad exclave, their airspace is a critical fault line between Moscow and the West. Even minor incursions are viewed as strategic probes meant to challenge NATO’s resolve and test its deterrence capabilities.
By invoking Article 4, Estonia has ensured that the matter will now be discussed at the highest levels within NATO. While the alliance is unlikely to trigger a direct military response, the incident is expected to lead to calls for stronger air policing missions and possibly greater deployment of allied forces to the Baltic region. For Estonia, the violation underscores a reality that has become increasingly clear since Russia’s war in Ukraine its sovereignty is secure only as long as NATO’s collective defence remains strong and united.