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Estonia seeks urgent Nato consultation after Russian jets violate airspace Estonia seeks urgent Nato consultation after Russian jets violate airspace
(about 1 hour later)
Watch: Violation of Nato airspace needs solid response, says Estonia foreign ministerWatch: Violation of Nato airspace needs solid response, says Estonia foreign minister
Estonia has requested a consultation with other Nato members after Russian warplanes violated its airspace on Friday.Estonia has requested a consultation with other Nato members after Russian warplanes violated its airspace on Friday.
Estonia's foreign ministry condemned the incursion as "brazen". It said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Estonian skies "without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes" over the Gulf of Finland. Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Estonian skies "without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes" over the Gulf of Finland, the government said.
A Nato spokesperson said the military alliance "responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft", calling it "yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato's ability to respond". Italy, Finland and Sweden scrambled jets under Nato's mission to bolster its eastern flank. A Nato spokesperson said it was "yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and Nato's ability to respond".
Italy, Finland and Sweden scrambled jets under Nato's mission to bolster its eastern flank. Later Russia denied violating Estonian airspace. Russia denied violating Estonian airspace. But tensions have been escalating recently, after Poland and Romania - both Nato members - said Russian drones breached their airspace.
Tensions have escalated between the Nato military alliance and Russia in the last week, after Poland and Romania - both Nato members - said Russian drones breached their airspace. Article 4 of the Nato treaty formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance, which ties the US and many European nations together on collective defence.
In response, Nato pledged to move military assets, including fighter jets, eastwards to strengthen defence. It is the second time this month that a Nato member has requested Article 4 consultations. Poland did so on 10 September after Russian drones entered its airspace.
Estonian Ambassador to the United States Kristjan Prikk said that the incursion into Estonian airspace was "serious", and Russia "has attempted to test Nato for quite some time". Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said "Nato's response to any provocation must be united and strong".
"We believe that Russia wants to send a signal to Nato countries to rather focus on collective defense rather than support Ukraine in their fight," he added. "We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps," Michal said.
The early hours of Saturday morning saw allied aircraft deployed to protect Polish airspace, as Russia launched airstrikes targeting western Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said on Friday: "I don't love it. I don't like when that happens. Could be big trouble."
At 05:40 local time (03:40 GMT), nearly all of Ukraine was under air raid alerts following Ukrainian Air Force warnings of Russian missile and drone attacks. Estonia, which shares a border with Russia to the east, says this was the fifth Russian violation of its airspace this year.
Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Friday's incursion into Estonian airspace was a "clear provocation" and called on Nato members to show unity in their response. Officials said the Russian aircraft entered its airspace from the north-east and were intercepted by Finnish jets over the Gulf of Finland. Once inside Estonian airspace, Italian F-35 jets, based in Estonia, were deployed under Nato's Baltic Air Policing mission to escort the aircraft out.
"Twelve minutes violation - heavy violation - of Nato airspace needs a solid response on a political level as well as on a practical level," he said. The government said the Russian jets had no flight plans, had their transponders turned off and also did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control.
Russia's defence ministry said the jets were on a "scheduled flight... in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring".Russia's defence ministry said the jets were on a "scheduled flight... in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring".
It said they flew over neutral Baltic waters, more than 3km (two miles) from Vaindloo Island, which belongs to Estonia.It said they flew over neutral Baltic waters, more than 3km (two miles) from Vaindloo Island, which belongs to Estonia.
Speaking later on Friday, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his government had "decided to request Nato Article 4 consultations" at an urgent meeting.
"Nato's response to any provocation must be united and strong. We consider it essential to consult with our allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps," Michal said.
Article 4 of the Nato treaty formally starts urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance, which ties the US and many European nations together on collective defence.
It is the second time in a week that a Nato member has requested Article 4 consultations. Poland did so after Russian drones entered its airspace.
Watch: Trump says Russian jets entering Estonia 'could be big trouble'Watch: Trump says Russian jets entering Estonia 'could be big trouble'
US President Donald Trump told reporters he was due to be briefed on the incident later on Friday. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
He said: "I don't love it. I don't like when that happens. Could be big trouble. But I'll let you know later." President Trump has been leading efforts to end the conflict - most recently by inviting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to Alaska for a summit.
Estonia's foreign ministry earlier said it had summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires "to lodge a protest" over Friday's incursion, while top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas described the incident as "an extremely dangerous provocation". But Putin's forces have rejected calls for a ceasefire. They have intensified air attacks, as well as making slow progress on the ground.
The minister added Russia had already violated Estonia's airspace four times in 2025. Estonia shares a border with Russia to the east. Estonia's prime minister said the Russian incursion showed its war of aggression in Ukraine was not proceeding as the Kremlin had planned.
Estonia said the aircraft entered its airspace from the north east and were intercepted by Finnish jets over the Gulf of Finland. Once inside Estonian airspace, Italian F-35 jets, based in Estonia, were deployed under Nato's Baltic Air Policing mission to escort the aircraft out.
The government said the Russian jets had no flight plans, had their transponders turned off and also did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control.
Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur told the BBC: "It is unprecedented that for 12 minutes the Russians were in our airspace."
He added that "in this situation, the only right thing to do is to push them out of Estonian airspace".
Michal also said the Russian incursion showed its war of aggression in Ukraine was not proceeding as the Kremlin had planned.
"The aim is to draw attention and assistance away from Ukraine by forcing Nato countries to focus more on the defence of their own territories," he added."The aim is to draw attention and assistance away from Ukraine by forcing Nato countries to focus more on the defence of their own territories," he added.
In a post on X, Kallas, who is an Estonian national, said the EU "will continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources".
She said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "testing the West's resolve. We must not show weakness".
Echoing her words, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X: "We will respond to every provocation with determination while investing in a stronger Eastern flank."
"As threats escalate, so too will our pressure," she added.
Estonia's ambassador to the UK, Sven Sakkov, told the BBC that "clear, practical steps" to increase the protection of airspace above Nato's eastern flank were needed in light of Friday's incident.
"If we had to face such times as we are living in now alone, we would be extremely concerned," he said, adding that Estonians nonetheless felt "determined" to defend themselves.
Last week, Poland's military said it had shot down at least three Russian drones, with prime minister Donald Tusk saying 19 drones were recorded entering Polish airspace.Last week, Poland's military said it had shot down at least three Russian drones, with prime minister Donald Tusk saying 19 drones were recorded entering Polish airspace.
Russia insisted the incident was not deliberate, and its defence ministry said there had been "no plans" to target facilities on Polish soil.Russia insisted the incident was not deliberate, and its defence ministry said there had been "no plans" to target facilities on Polish soil.
Belarus, a close Russian ally, said the drones entered Polish airspace accidentally after their navigation systems were jammed.Belarus, a close Russian ally, said the drones entered Polish airspace accidentally after their navigation systems were jammed.
Several days later, Romania's defence ministry said it had detected a Russian drone when two F-16 jets were monitoring the country's border with Ukraine, after "Russian air attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure on the Danube [river]".Several days later, Romania's defence ministry said it had detected a Russian drone when two F-16 jets were monitoring the country's border with Ukraine, after "Russian air attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure on the Danube [river]".
The ministry said the drone later disappeared from the radar.The ministry said the drone later disappeared from the radar.
Russia has not commented on the issue.Russia has not commented on the issue.
In response to Russia's incursions into Poland and Romania, Nato pledged to move troops and fighter jets eastwards.In response to Russia's incursions into Poland and Romania, Nato pledged to move troops and fighter jets eastwards.
Planes from the UK, France, Germany and Denmark are all taking part in air defence missions over Poland in a bid to bolster the alliance's eastern flank.Planes from the UK, France, Germany and Denmark are all taking part in air defence missions over Poland in a bid to bolster the alliance's eastern flank.
Pevkur said Nato needed to "put more focus on the eastern flank" and described it as "our joint response line in a way, that here in Estonia we keep the front door closed".
On Monday, a French jet was scrambled in response to another potential incursion by Russian drones. Nato said that alert was quickly over.