The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) says it intercepted three Russian warplanes violating Estonia’s airspace.
Estonia, a NATO member, said the flyover which happened Friday was “brazen”.
The Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the airspace over the Gulf of Finland and remained there for 12 minutes, the Estonian foreign ministry said.
The ministry has summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires over the violation.
“This is an unprecedented and brazen intrusion – clear proof of Russia’s growing aggression,” Margus Tsahkna, Estonian minister of foreign affairs, said.
Tsahkna said such actions would not be tolerated and called for “swift political and economic pressure”.
Allison Hart, the NATO spokesperson, said the military alliance “responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft”.
Hart called it “yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour”.
Tensions between the military alliance and the European country have risen since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. However, recent violations have amplified this pressure.
Estonia is the latest NATO member country to report airspace incursion by Russian jets and drones after Poland and Romania reported similar incidents last week.
NATO fighter jets shot down multiple Russian drones that violated the Polish airspace during an attack on neighbouring Ukraine.
Kaja Kallas, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said Friday’s airspace violation was an “extremely dangerous provocation” from Russia.
“Putin is testing the West’s resolve. We must not show weakness,” Kallas added.
Kallas, who is also the vice president of the European Commission (EU), noted that she was in close contact with the Estonian government.
She added that the commission would continue to support its member states in strengthening their defences with European resources.
The Russian government has yet to comment on the development.
