Estonia’s airspace was violated by a Russian jet on Friday, adding that the country’s foreign ministry had summoned Russian Charge de Affairs over the incident.
Three Russian MIG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace in the Gulf of Finland without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes.
“Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times this year, and is unacceptable in itself. But today’s invasion, involving three fighter planes entering our airspace, is unprecedented bravery.”
“The test of increasingly widespread aggression at Russia’s boundaries must be filled with a rapid increase in political and economic pressure,” Tsahkna said.
Estonia is the latest NATO member state to report recent Russian jet and drone airspace violations.
NATO spokesman Allison Hart described the incident as “still another example of reckless Russian actions and NATO’s ability to respond.”
Kaha Karas, the top European Union diplomat, denounced the incident on Friday as “a very dangerous provocation.”
“This marks such a violation of EU airspace for the third time and further escalates regional tensions,” Karasu wrote to X. “The EU is in full solidarity with Estonia.”
Karas said she was in close contact with the Estonian government. “Putin is testing the West’s resolve. We should not show weakness,” she added.
Earlier on Friday, the European Commission proposed new sanctions against Russia, citing violations of EU airspace, particularly those in the country.
The European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen called for the EU to approve sanctions to put additional pressure on Moscow.
“We respond with determination to all provocations, investing in a stronger Eastern side. So does our pressure as the threat escalates,” von der Reyen wrote to X.
Friday’s incident comes after Russian drones violated both Poland and Romanian airspace earlier this month, prompting NATO allies to pledge to strengthen the alliance’s east defenses.
Last Wednesday, NATO fighters fired down multiple Russian drones that violated Polish airspace during attacks on nearby Ukraine.
The operation marked the first time a shot was fired by NATO since the start of the war in Ukraine. The military alliance denounced Moscow for its “absolutely dangerous” actions.
On Sunday, Romanian airspace was violated by Russian drones, urging Bucharest to scramble fighter jets.
The two F-16 jets approached the drone down, but the pilot decided not to fire after assessing the risk of collateral.
According to Defense Minister Ionut Mosianu, Romanian Foreign Minister summoned Russian ambassador Vladimir Lipayev on the incident.
