Three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonian airspace on Friday in what would appear to be the third attempt by the Kremlin this month to test NATO’s eastern border.
The MiG-31 aircraft — heavy interceptors capable of carrying Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missile — entered via the Gulf of Finland. The jets circled for about 12 minutes and NATO scrambled Italian F-35s to repel them.
The incursion comes after Russia last week also sent drones into Poland and Romania, two other frontline NATO members.
"The Russians have been flying this exact airspace for decades. It's difficult to see how this wasn't intentional," a U.S. official told POLITICO.
Estonia in response is invoking NATO's Article 4, which requires alliance members to convene for urgent talks, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna confirmed to POLITICO.
“This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond,” NATO Spokesperson Allison Hart said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the incursion as "an extremely dangerous provocation," adding that the EU "will continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources."
Estonia said it has also summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Tallinn.
“Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brutal,” Tsahkna said. “Russia’s ever-increasing testing of borders and aggression must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.
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