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Estonia Reports 12-Minute Airspace Breach by Three Russian MiG-31s as NATO Intercepts

Allied leaders cast the breach as a deliberate provocation that will draw added political and economic pressure on Moscow.

Overview

  • Estonia said the jets crossed near Vaindloo in the Gulf of Finland with transponders off, no flight plan and no radio contact with air traffic control.
  • Tallinn summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires and issued a formal protest, calling the fourth incursion this year brazen and unprecedented.
  • NATO said it responded immediately with an interception; an alliance official reported three Italian F-35s were mobilized, and NATO said Sweden and Finland also launched quick-reaction aircraft.
  • EU officials, including Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, condemned the violation and signaled support for tougher measures against Russia.
  • The episode follows recent airspace incidents involving Russian drones over Poland and a breach reported by Romania; Russia offered no immediate substantive comment.