NATO responds after Russian military jets 'violate' Estonian airspace

NATO says it has responded after Russian military jets "violated" Estonian airspace.

In a statement, the Estonian government said the incident involved three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets that flew near Vaindloo Island, in the Gulf of Finland, for a total of 12 minutes without permission. A NATO spokesperson said the Russian jets "violated Estonian airspace" and "NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft".

"This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO's ability to respond." Foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said Russia had already violated Estonian airspace four times this year, "which is unacceptable in itself, but today's violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen". "Russia's ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure," he added.

Estonia is the third NATO country to report an incursion of its airspace by Russia in recent weeks: On Sunday, Romania said a drone breached its airspace during a Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine. Poland also reported an "unprecedented violation" of its airspace by more than a dozen Russian drones last week.

Moscow denied responsibility for the incident. The UK had previously summoned the Russian ambassador in London in response to the "utterly unacceptable" Romanian and Polish incursions.

The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, its jets routinely fly over the Baltic Sea, where its Baltic Fleet is based.

While incursions over Vaindloo Island, around 124 miles from Estonia's capital Tallinn, by Russian aircraft are somewhat common, they do not usually last as long as Friday's incident. In response to the latest incident, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the UK "stands with our Estonian allies" after what she called "yet another reckless incursion into NATO airspace".

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said: "We will respond to every provocation with determination while investing in a stronger Eastern flank." She added that "as threats escalate, so too will our pressure.