Estonia condemns 'brazen' airspace violation by Russian warplanes

Russian warplanes have violated Estonian airspace, the foreign ministry in Tallinn has said, condemning the incursion as "brazen".

It said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets "entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes" on Friday over the Gulf of Finland.

The ministry says it summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires "to lodge a protest".

Estonian media are reporting the Russian jets had their transponders switched off in the airspace of a Nato member.

The Russian military has not publicly commented on the issue.

In a statement, Estonian Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Friday's incursion was "unprecedentedly brazen".

He continued: "Russia's increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure."

The minister added Russia had already violated Estonia's airspace four times in 2025.

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