According to Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian fighter jets violated the country’s airspace on Friday. The incident involved three Russian MiG-31 aircraft, which remained in Estonian airspace for a total of twelve minutes.
The Russian Embassy’s chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day to formally protest the airspace transgression and receive a diplomatic note detailing the violation. The incursion occurred over the Gulf of Finland.
“Russia has already violated Estonian airspace four times this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s airspace violation with three fighter jets is unprecedentedly brazen” stated Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. He added that Russia’s increasing border crossings and growing aggression require a rapid increase in political and economic pressure.
Estonia, formerly part of the Soviet Union until 1990, has been a NATO member since 2004. The German armed forces, particularly the Luftwaffe, have been actively participating in the “Air Policing Baltikum” (VAPB) mission, bolstering security from the Ämari Air Base in Estonia since 2014 and are considered a significant contributor to the initiative.
