""I've just spoken with the Estonian PM Kristen Michal about the Russian airspace violation today," NATO chief Mark Rutte said on social media on September 19. "NATO's response...was quick and decisive," he added, referring to the deployment of alliance jets after the small Baltic nation reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter aircraft entered its airspace."
"The Estonian military said the jets remained in national airspace for 12 minutes in the Vaindloo Island area without permission. "The fighter jets did not have flight plans, and their transponders were switched off," the military said. "At the time of the airspace violation, the fighter jets did not have two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control." Michal said his government had requested the invoking of NATO's Article 4, which sets a mandatory meeting of alliance members but is short of the more serious Article 5. Estonia's Foreign Ministry also summoned Russia's charge d'affaires to "lodge a protest and deliver a note of concern" over the incident."
NATO allies condemned a Russian violation of Estonian airspace after three MiG-31 fighter jets entered the Vaindloo Island area and remained for 12 minutes. Allied quick-reaction forces scrambled under the Eastern Sentry mission, with Italian F025 jets based in Estonia and Sweden and Finland also responding. The Russian Defense Ministry denied any violation, calling the flight scheduled and compliant with international regulations. Estonian authorities reported the jets lacked flight plans, had transponders switched off, and had no two-way radio contact. Estonia requested an Article 4 meeting and summoned Russia's charge d'affaires to lodge a protest.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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