A NATO member state was forced to scramble a reconnaissance plane after a Russian fighter jet was accused of violating the Western military alliance's airspace. A Russian SU-30 fighter jet entered the Estonian airspace for around a minute on Wednesday, an official from the Baltic state said.
Estonia's foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said on Thursday that the incident happened near Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland, off Estonia's northern coast. The Italian Air Force, based at the Ämari Air Base, quickly deployed a military plane to monitor the jet, he added.
The Italian Air Force deployed a military plane. (Image: Getty)
Mr Tsahkna said: "There was no direct threat to Estonian security." However, the jet did not have a flight plan or communicate with Estonian air traffic control, per Delfi.ee.
In response to the airspace violation, the first incident of its kind this year, Estonia has summoned the acting head of the Russian diplomatic mission in Tallinn.
Prime Minister Kristebn Michal accused Russia of following a "pattern" and praised NATO's response to the incident.
He wrote on X: "Russia's pattern does not change. Yesterday a Russian fighter jet violated our airspace. NATO works. Our skies are monitored, protected and defended at all times."
Riho Terras, the former head of the Estonian defence forces, confirmed "no threat" to Estonia's security and called for future violations to face a "firm and consistent response".
He said: "Allies reacted, and there was no threat to Estonia's security. Every such violation, now and in the future, must be met with a firm and consistent response."
The Armed Forces Operational Command of Poland announced on Friday night that the Western Alliance was dispatching "on-duty fighter pairs and an early warning aircraft".
They wrote in a post on X: "Due to the activity of the Russian Federation's long-range aviation, which is carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace.
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"In accordance with the applicable procedures, the Operational Commander of the RSZ has activated the necessary forces and resources at his disposal.
"On-duty fighter pairs and an early warning aircraft have been scrambled, and ground-based air defense systems as well as radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of maximum readiness."
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