Estonia on Friday reported that its airspace was breached by Russian drones, marking the third instance of Russia’s violation of NATO border in recent days.
NATO intercepted three Russian drones over Estonia’s airspace and forcing them to flee, the country’s foreign ministry and the NATO spokesperson said. In response to the incursion, Estonia formally requested a Nato Article 4 consultation over the Russian violation of its airspace earlier today, the country’s prime minister Kristen Michal said. “Russia has already violated Estonia’s airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.
“Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure,” Tsahkna went on saying.
Meanwhile, Nato spokesperson Allison Hart said that the North Atlantic Council will convene early next week to discuss the incident in more detail.
Russia’s incursion into Estonia was condemned by the NATO and the country’s allies. “Russia’s latest reckless and dangerous activity is the third violation of NATO airspace in recent days. But Putin’s aggression only serves to strengthen the unity of NATO and our resolve to stand with Ukraine,” British defence minister John Healey wrote on X. Estonia’s neighbour Latvia also slammed the attack, with Defence Minister Andris Spruds Andris Spruds stressing the need to strengthen the defence of the eastern flank. “Airspace protection in the Baltics must be further reinforced through NATO’s air defence mission,” Spruds wrote on X. France’s foreign ministry said Russia’s incursion into Estonia is “unprecedented for more than 20 years.”
Violation of NATO airspace by Russia is the third such incident in recent days. Another NATO member Romania reported on September 14 that a Russian drone entered its airspace, describing the move as an “irresponsible action”. The incident prompted Bucharest to scramble fighter jets. The drone was intercepted by F-16 fighter jets. The Russian defence ministry did not comment on the incident that came days after Poland shot down multiple Russian drones over its airspace. Incursion into Poland prompted NATO to shore up the alliance’s defences on its eastern flank.
