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Ukraine Invasion Day 1,306: RU violated Estonian air space for 12 minutes [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-09-19

Three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonian airspace on Friday in what would appear to be the third attempt by the Kremlin this month to test NATO’s eastern border.

The incursion comes after Russia last week also sent drones into Poland and Romania, two other frontline NATO members.

Russian MiG-31 interceptor jets violated Estonian airspace on September 19.

The Estonian General Staff reported on September 19 that three Russian MiG-31 interceptor jets violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland near Vaindloo Island (about 81 kilometers southeast of Helsinki) for roughly 12 minutes.[1] The Estonian General Staff reported that the Russian aircraft had no published flight plans and that the aircrafts’ transponders were disabled, preventing Estonian air traffic control from two-way communication with the pilots. NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) reported that NATO scrambled Italian F-35 fighter jets based in Estonia as part of Operation Eastern Sentry and that Sweden and Finland also scrambled their respective quick reaction aircraft.[2] Estonian Defense Forces Spokesperson Major Taavi Karotamm stated that the Russian MiG-31s flew parallel to the Estonian border from east to west and entered Estonian airspace at a depth of less than 10 kilometers.[3] Karotamm added that Finnish Air Force fighter jets and Italian F-35s escorted the Russian jets from Estonian airspace to Kaliningrad Oblast. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated on September 19 that this is the fourth time that Russia violated Estonian airspace in 2025, but that the September 19 incursion involving three fighter jets is “unprecedentedly brazen.”[4] Russian military aviation previously violated Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island on June 2 and September 7, and southwest of the island near Juminda on May 13.[5]

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced that Estonia invoked consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty in response to Russia’s airspace violation.[6] Article 4 states that a NATO member state can call a meeting to consult on any issue in which the “territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any Parties is threatened” and that fellow member states are encouraged to respond to the situation.[7] NATO Spokesperson Allison Hart stated on September 19 that NATO immediately responded to Russia’s incursion and intercepted the Russian aircraft and that this was yet another example of “reckless Russian behavior” and NATO’s ability to respond to this behavior.[8] NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reported that NATO responded quickly and decisively to the Russian incursion under Operation Eastern Sentry.[9] NATO announced the start of Operation Eastern Sentry on September 12, and NATO officials noted that the intent of the operation is to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, including Estonia, following the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace and violation of NATO airspace overnight on September 9 to 10.[10] ISW continues to assess that Russia is deliberately attempting to gauge NATO’s capabilities and reactions to various air incursions in hopes of applying lessons learned to possible future conflicts against the NATO alliance.[11]

understandingwar.org/...

Almost ten years ago, Türkiye solved the problem with Russian planes violating their airspace.

European officials continue to discuss the creation of a defensive “drone wall” and provide military support for Ukraine following Russia’s violation of Polish airspace on September 9 to 10. European Union (EU) Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated on September 18 that he will convene EU defense ministers next week to discuss the creation of a “drone wall” on the EU’s eastern border in response to Russia’s drone incursion into Poland.[12] Kubilius stated that the project will likely include a mix of sensors and defense and jamming systems to detect and neutralize drones, and suggested that the EU could complete the drone wall within a year. Kubilius first announced the drone wall proposal on September 15 and stated that Russia’s drone incursion over Poland demonstrated the EU’s need to increase its capabilities to defend against potential drone strikes.[13] Kubilius stated that the EU will cooperate with Ukraine to develop the drone wall project. Ukrainian Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak expressed support for Ukraine’s potential involvement in the EU drone wall project.[14] A NATO representative told Ukrainian outlet Suspilne on September 19 that Ukraine’s allies delivered the first weapons purchased through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, through which European states purchase weapons for Ukraine from the United States.[15]

understandingwar.org/...

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/19/2344387/-Ukraine-Invasion-Day-1-306-RU-violated-Estonian-air-space-for-12-minutes?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web

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