Estonia’s airspace was violated by three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets on Friday, marking the country’s fourth such incident this year. The fighters incorrectly entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without any authorization. They averaged just 12 minutes in doing so on average once per game. In response to this latest breach, Estonia’s Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires to express the government’s strong disapproval.
Just days earlier, Russia’s drones had crossed into the airspace of Poland and Romania. In retaliation, NATO allies built up a greater defense posture across the alliance’s eastern flank. Russia’s recent actions make it very difficult to ignore the strong security concerns felt by its neighbors and NATO members.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the Friday incursion “unprecedentedly brazen.” He reiterated that Russia’s ongoing violations are unacceptable and have heightened tensions in the area.
“Russia has already violated Estonia’s airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen,” – Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna
Tsahkna emphasized that in light of Russia’s growing aggressiveness, a firm and united voice from the international community is needed. He called for heightened political and economic pressure to counteract what he described as “Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries.”
The incident highlights the increasingly complicated environment Estonia must operate in as tensions with Russia continue to escalate. The Estonian government is proactively keeping watch. It is closely tracking Army, Air Force, and Navy capabilities improvements and working closely with NATO allies to ensure adequate defensive and offensive capabilities.
