Russian fighter jets intercepted in Estonian airspace

We've moved to covering the latest developments on the news about Russian jets having violated Estonian airspace here.

Estonia has requested consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes early Friday near the Baltic Sea island of Vaindloo.

NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said on X that the alliance "responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft," calling the incursion "yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO's ability to respond." Italian F-35 jets carried out the interception, according to Tallinn.

The Baltic states rely on NATO allies to secure their airspace.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the "violation is completely unacceptable, and 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, according to a statement from the Estonian Foreign Office. The entire alliance is treating this incident seriously."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv plans to export some domestically made weapons, including naval drones, to help finance further military production.

"We already have certain types of weapons in much larger quantities than we actually need today in Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in his daily address.

He gave naval drones, anti-tank and "some other types" of weapons as examples.

"Thanks to controlled exports, we will be able to accumulate money for more production of the things our army needs," Zelenskyy added.

The Ukrainian president named the United States, Europe, and "other partners around the world" as potential buyers, noting he has offered US officials Ukrainian drones several times without result.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned Russia after its military aircraft again violated NATO airspace, this time over Estonia.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy called the move "outrageous" and said Russia’s actions form a systematic campaign against Europe, NATO, and the West. He cited Russian interference in political processes in Romania and Moldova and repeated airspace violations in Poland, Romania, and now Estonia.

“These are not accidents,” he wrote. “This is a systematic Russian campaign directed against Europe, against NATO, against the West. And it requires a systemic response. Strong action must be taken — both collectively and individually by each nation.”

“Russia must feel increasing pain from the world’s pressure, first and foremost through its economy, and that is best ensured by sanctions. At the same time, Russia’s war losses must continue to rise, which is best achieved by a strong Ukrainian army.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte hailed the alliance's response to the incursion into Estonian airspace by three Russian jets.

"I’ve just spoken with the Estonian [Prime Minister Kristen Michal] about the Russian air space violation today. NATO’s response under Eastern Sentry was quick and decisive," Rutte said.

After nearly 20 Russian drones breached Polish airspace earlier this month, NATO launched its "Eastern Sentry" mission in order to strengthen the military alliance's eastern flank.

Two Russian fighter jets have violated the safety zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea, Polish Border Guards say. 

Estonia said earlier that three Russian military jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes in what it called an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion, escalating tensions on NATO's eastern flank.

The Polish Border Guard wrote on X that "two Russian fighter jets performed a low pass over the Petrobaltic platform in the Baltic Sea. The platform's safety zone was violated."

It added that the armed forces and other services were alerted.

"Services responsible for Poland's security continuously monitor the situation around critical maritime infrastructure, including beyond Poland's territorial waters," the post said.

Last week, Poland shot down suspected Russian drones over its territory with support from NATO aircraft, the first known instance of a NATO member firing shots during Russia's war in Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has also condemned Russia's incursion into Estonian airspace.

"Vigilance is the price of freedom. This principle of NATO remains as relevant as ever. Today's unacceptable violation of Estonian airspace by Russia clearly demonstrates this," Wadephul said on X.

The foreign minister said he had given Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, his assurance of Germany's "full solidarity."

"By immediately intercepting the Russian aircraft, we are showing that NATO is always ready to defend itself," Wadephul emphasized.

After recent drone incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace, NATO has launched Operation Eastern Sentry to strengthen its eastern flank. How serious is the threat from Russia? And can NATO deter future provocations?

Click here for more on NATO's effort to prevent Russian drone incursions.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha denounced what he said was "another Russian incursion" after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets were reported violating Estonian airspace.

"Today's incursion of three Russian fighter jets into Estonian airspace is another Russian escalation and a direct threat to transatlantic security," Sybiha said on on social media platform X.

Sybiha called for Russia to face "crushing political and economic pressure."

"As long as it doesn't get a really strong response, Moscow will only get more arrogant and aggressive," Ukraine's top diplomat warned.

NATO said it had intercepted Russian aircraft that had flown into Estonian airspace.

"Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said in a post on X.

"This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond," the alliance spokesperson said.

Tallinn said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets had entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland, remaining for 12 minutes.

Estonia's defense forces said the Russia jets did not have flight plans, and their transponders were switched off.

"At the time of the airspace violation, the fighter jets did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control," the defense force said in a statement.

NATO Baltic Air Policing F-35s were scrambled from the Amari Air Base, Estonia's military said.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia's incursion in Estonia was a "dangerous provocation."

"Today's violation of Estonia's airspace by Russian military aircraft is an extremely dangerous provocation," Kallas said in a post on X.

"This marks the third such violation of EU airspace in days and further escalates tensions in the region. The EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia," Kallas said.

The EU's top diplomat went on to say that she was in close communications with Estonia's government and that they had their full support.

"Putin is testing the West's resolve. We must not show weakness," Kallas said.

Estonia's Foreign Ministry has summoned a Russian diplomat after it reported that three Russian jets violated its airspace on Friday.

"Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today's violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen," said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.

The Foreign Ministry said the incursion took place over the Gulf of Finland and involved three Russian MIG-31 fighters, lasting a total of 12 minutes.

NATO member Estonia is a strong supporter of Ukraine and shares borders Russia, along with neighboring Baltic state Latvia.

The incident comes just over a week after Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO forces to shoot some of them down.

The United Kingdom has announced sanctions against two Georgian businessmen in response to their support for Russia's war in Ukraine, as well as against two tankers carrying Russian oil.

"As Russia's war footing weakens, the Kremlin is increasingly looking to proxies in third countries to support its war and propaganda operations, including in Georgia," the foreign ministry's statement said.

Those sanctioned by the UK are the Georgian politician and media mogul Levan Vasadze, whom London accuses of disseminating pro-Russian disinformation, and the businessman and former Georgian prosecutor general Otar Partskhaladze, whom the UK says has "extensive links to Russia".

Two tankers have also been targeted for transporting Russian oil, which is subject to Western sanctions, to a Georgian port.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, announced that the Commission had presented its 19th package of sanctions against Russia.

"Russia is showing the full extent of its contempt for diplomacy and international law. So we're increasing the pressure," von der Leyen wrote on X.

As part of the bloc's 19th package of sanctions against Russia, the European Commission intends to bring forward the ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into the European Union by one year, to the start of 2027.

"Russia's war economy is sustained by the revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues," she said in a video statement. "We are banning imports of Russian energy into European markets. It is time to turn off the tap."

Package targets Russian 'shadow fleet'

Meanwhile, Kallas announced that the package would designate 118 new vessels as a shadow fleet and enablers, and would ban the reinsurance of listed vessels.

In a serises of posts on X, she said that the Commission had also proposed taking action against Russian financial evasion schemes in third countries, including those involving cryptocurrencies, and targeting the Russian credit card system MIR.

The proposal would extend the EU's export bans to include more chemicals, metal components, salts and ores, and would impose tighter export controls on entities in Russia, China and India, Kallas added.

"We want to strike where Russia gets its money. No sector is off-limits," she wrote.

The new sanctions proposals must be endorsed by the 27 EU countries before they can enter force.

Russian state media cited Moscow's UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, as saying that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet his US counterpart Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week.

According to Nebenzia, Lavrov and Rubio "will discuss an entire range of issues, both bilateral and multilateral."

"There is no specific agenda yet, but a meeting is being planned," the envoy added.

Recently, US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration at Russia for not negotiating an end to its Ukraine offensive.