Overview

• NATO said allied aircraft intercepted three Russian MiG-31s after they entered Estonian airspace, with Italian F-35s responding under the Baltic Air Policing mission.
• Estonia reported the jets flew over the Vaindloo Island area of the Gulf of Finland without flight plans, with transponders off and no two-way radio contact.
• Moscow denied any violation, asserting its aircraft flew over neutral Baltic waters en route to Kaliningrad.
• Estonia summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires and delivered a protest note, as EU leaders condemned the incident and the European Commission advanced new sanctions on Russia.
• The episode followed recent Russian drone breaches of Polish and Romanian airspace; NATO has reinforced its eastern flank under Eastern Sentry, Poland scrambled jets during Russia’s latest mass strikes on Ukraine, and an Article 4 meeting is expected early next week.