Estonia has formally requested a Nato Article 4 consultation following an 'unprecedentedly brazen' violation of its airspace by three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets, according to Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The incursion, which lasted 12 minutes over the Baltic Sea, saw Nato fighters intercept the Russian aircraft before they were 'forced to flee'.
Estonian Defence Forces reported that the MiG-31s entered airspace near Vaindloo island in the Gulf of Finland without flight plans, with transponders switched off and no communication with air traffic control. Italian F-35 jets based in Estonia as part of Nato's air policing mission intercepted them.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the action, noting it was the fourth such violation this year. 'Russia's increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure,' he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the violation 'outrageous' and urged allies to take 'strong action', describing a pattern of Russian incursions into Polish, Romanian and Estonian airspace. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labelled it an 'extremely dangerous provocation'.
Nato spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed that the North Atlantic Council will convene early next week to discuss the incident. Article 4 allows any member to request consultations if its territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened, though it does not mandate military action like Article 5.
European Council President António Costa announced that EU leaders will discuss a collective response at a meeting in Copenhagen on 1 October. The European Commission's Ursula von der Leyen said Europe 'stands with Estonia' and called for swift approval of a 19th sanctions package against Russia.
