Three Russian military jets crossed into Estonia’s airspace Friday in what the NATO member called an “unprecedentedly brazen” violation during an alarming escalation of tension in the region.
The trio of Russian MiG-31 fighters flew into Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, the government said — just over a week after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace.
“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 brazen,” Estonia Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.
Handout photo shows two Russian MiG-31 fighter jets (not the ones over Estonia). RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock“Russia’s ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.”
The Russian military planes reached around Vaindloo Island, a small island nestled in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea.
The jets did not have flight plans and their transponders were shut down, the Estonian military said.
Jets with the Italian Air Force, which are currently deployed in the area as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission, responded to the incursion, officials said.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, labeled the latest development “an extremely dangerous provocation” that “further escalates tensions in the region.”
Estonia, which was part of the old Soviet Union, summoned the Russian diplomat to hand over a protest note following the airspace violation.
Moscow did not immediately comment on the airspace incursion.
The Kremlin’s ongoing actions in the region have irritated and even rattled surrounding countries, including when Russian drones crossed into Poland’s airspace earlier this month.
The drones drew a military response from NATO with several of the unmanned aircraft vehicles being shot down.
With Post wires
