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Russia denies Estonia’s airspace violation claims, warns of escalating tensions. NATO and Estonia respond to alleged MiG-31 incursion near Vaindloo Island.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. (Reuters file photo)
Russia on Monday rejected Estonia’s allegations that Russian fighter jets violated the latter’s airspace, and warned that countries making such accusations risked “escalating tensions”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Tallinn’s accusations, saying the Russian military operates “strictly within the confines of international law, including those pertaining to flights”, news agency AFP reported.
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Russia considers Estonia’s statements “empty, unfounded, and a continuation of the country’s utterly unstoppable policy of escalating tensions and provoking a confrontational atmosphere,” Peskov told reporters.
The Kremlin’s remarks came after NATO claimed that its aircraft intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighters last week after they crossed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland.
Estonia said that the three fighter jets entered its airspace without permission in the area of Vaindloo Island, around 100 kilometres (124 miles) from the capital Tallinn, and stayed there for a total of 12 minutes.
Italy, Finland and Sweden scrambled military jets attached to NATO’s air defence support mission to intercept the Russian jets and warn them off.
The jets had their transponders switched off and did not engage with Estonian air traffic control, the Baltic country added.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the incident was “part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally,” adding that “this behavior requires an international response.”
“This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond,” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart had said in a statement.
Later, Tallinn requested for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the airspace violation. It also requested an urgent consultation with other NATO members under Article 4 of the NATO treaty to discuss the issue.
Article 4 of the NATO treaty is generally invoked to formally begin urgent consultations within the 32-member alliance, bringing the United States and European countries together for collective defence.
NATO ambassadors will convene on Tuesday for talks on the incursion.
Earlier, Poland invoked Article 4 after around 20 Russian drones violated its airspace.
(With inputs from AFP)
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
Moscow, Russia
September 22, 2025, 17:19 IST
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