Overview

• Estonia and NATO reported that three Russian MiG-31s entered Estonian airspace near Vaindloo for about 12 minutes, prompting a quick-reaction scramble.
• Two Italian F-35s launched from Ämari made visual contact and escorted the aircraft out after radar detected the unauthorized incursion.
• Moscow denied any violation, saying the jets followed a planned route over neutral Baltic waters in full compliance with international rules.
• Tallinn summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires to deliver a formal protest and requested NATO consultations under Article 4.
• NATO is reinforcing patrols under the new Sentinella est initiative, with multiple allies contributing assets, while EU leaders condemned the episode and advanced a 19th sanctions package.