Estonia accuses Russia of violating its airspace

A Russian fighter jet violated neighbouring Estonia’s airspace on Wednesday, triggering ​a response from NATO’s Baltic ‌Air Policing, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said, Reuters reports.

It was the first time this year that a Russian aircraft has violated Estonian airspace, ‌the ​foreign ministry said.

The violation ⁠occurred near Vaindloo ⁠Island in the Gulf of Finland, off Estonia’s northern coast, where a Russian SU-30 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace ​and remained for around one minute, Tsahkna said on Thursday.

“There was ⁠no threat to Estonia’s ⁠security,” he added.

NATO’s Baltic Air ​Policing mission responded swiftly, deploying Italian Air ​Force units, according to Tsahkna.

In September ‌last year, Estonia said three Russian military jets violated the Baltic country’s airspace for 12 minutes in an “unprecedentedly ⁠brazen” incursion, while Russia’s Defence Ministry rejected the claim as false.

Estonia summoned the acting head ⁠of the ‌Russian diplomatic mission in ⁠Tallinn in protest at Wednesday’s ​incident, ‌the foreign ministry said.

The Russian ​embassy in ⁠Estonia did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters via phone and email.