NATO forces intercepted three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets that violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes on Friday, September 19th, in Estonian airspace in the Gulf of Finland.
The jet, which can carry Russian Kintzhal high-pitched missiles, reportedly flew towards Tallinn, further expanding tensions between Russia and the NATO alliance.
Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned Russian charities and filed a formal protest, making it the fifth violation of Russia’s Estonian airspace in 2025. Tsuna condemned Russia’s “continuous testing of national border control and aggression.” According to Estonian media, the Italian F-35 was deployed under NATO’s Baltic Air Police mission at ämari and scrambled to defeat the Jets.
Migus bravely than Estonia, known as “very dangerous provocation.”
NATO spokesman Allison Hart called the incident “still another example of reckless Russian action,” reaffirming the Alliance’s prompt response. EU diplomat and Estonian national Kaja Kallas labelled “a very dangerous provocation” in X, highlighting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is testing Western resolve. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged a stronger NATO eastern flank by saying something similar.
The intrusion follows a series of Russian violations in NATO airspace. Recently, Polish troops have damaged four of at least 20 Russian drones that have invaded the airspace. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass warned that Poland is close to military conflicts at any time since World War II. Romania also reported that Russian drones temporarily entered its airspace and then disappeared from the radar.
Russia and Belarus claim that the drones caused an accident, but there is no comment on MIG regarding Estonia
Russia has not commented on the Estonian incident, but it claims that the Polish drone invasion is not intentional and it claims to obstruct navigation. Belarus, a Russian ally, repeated this explanation. Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus recently conducted a joint military exercise in Zapad to simulate and increase the defense against hypothetical NATO invasions.
A RAF source said the 12-minute break-in was “almost no accident,” and that such a period suggested intention. British OSCE ambassador Neil Holland called Russia’s actions “deeply concerned and reckless.” As NATO strengthens its defenses, the alliance faces a growing threat in countering provocative manipulation along the Russian border.
