Extremely serious provocation: Russian violations of Estonian airspace

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned a bold and unprecedented violation of Estonian airspace carried out by three Russian fighter jets.

The violation occurred over the Gulf of Finland, where three MiG-31 fighter jets from the Russian Federation entered Estonian airspace and remained there for 12 minutes.

Estonian Airspace

The statement quoted the Estonian Foreign Minister as saying, “Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times this year, which is unacceptable in itself. But today’s breach, carried out by three fighter jets, is unprecedentedly bold.”

The minister added, “Such actions cannot be tolerated and must be punished with swift political and economic measures.”

The Estonian ministry indicated that it summoned the acting Russian embassy representative to protest this violation.

Serious Russian Behavior

Previous violations occurred on May 13, June 22, and September 7. The task of monitoring Baltic airspace has been assigned to other NATO allies who take turns carrying out this mission, as all these countries strongly support Ukraine but lack their own fighter jets.

Since August, the Italian Air Force has taken over the surveillance mission.
A NATO spokesperson confirmed that NATO intercepted the Russian fighter jets that violated Estonian airspace, condemning it as another example of dangerous Russian behavior.

The spokesperson added, “Earlier today, Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft.”

Extremely Serious Provocation

The European Union’s foreign policy official condemned what was described as an “extremely serious provocation.”

The official stated, “This is the third violation of European Union airspace in days, and it increases tensions in the region.”

Gulf of Finland

The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea, stretching between Finland to the north and Estonia to the south, with Russia at its eastern end. Historically, it has been a strategically vital maritime route for trade and naval power, particularly for cities like Saint Petersburg, which was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on its shores in 1703. Its waters have been the site of numerous naval battles throughout history, especially during the Great Northern War and World War II.

Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government institution responsible for managing the country’s diplomatic relations and foreign policy. It was first established in 1918 following Estonia’s declaration of independence but was forced to operate in exile during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1991. The ministry was re-established in Tallinn after Estonia regained its independence and continues to shape the nation’s role within the EU and NATO.

NATO

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a political and military alliance established in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty. It was created to provide collective security against the Soviet Union during the Cold War and has since evolved to address new security challenges and crises. Its headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium.

Italian Air Force

The Italian Air Force, known as the Aeronautica Militare, was founded as an independent service in 1923. It has a significant history, having participated in conflicts from World War II to modern international coalitions and peacekeeping missions. Today, it is responsible for the aerial defense of Italy and operates a diverse fleet of aircraft.

European Union

The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 European countries, established to foster cooperation and secure lasting peace on the continent after the devastation of World War II. It originated with the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and has since evolved through various treaties to create a single market with common policies and a shared currency, the euro, used by 20 member states.