Overview

• Estonia said three MiG-31s crossed its airspace over the Gulf of Finland near Vaindloo Island for about 12 minutes with transponders off, no flight plans and no radio contact.
• Italian F-35s scrambled under NATO command and intercepted the aircraft, which the alliance called further evidence of reckless Russian behavior.
• Estonia summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires and delivered a formal protest note over what its foreign minister labeled an unprecedentedly brazen incursion.
• The episode follows a large wave of Russian drones that entered Polish airspace on Sept. 9–10, prompting Poland to invoke Article 4, while Romania reported a brief drone breach and chose not to fire.
• NATO continues reinforcing its eastern flank under Operation Eastern Sentry, with Germany, France, the UK and Denmark adding aircraft as allies push for more cost‑effective counter‑drone defenses and joint production.