On September 19, 2025, NATO intercepted three Russian fighter jets that violated Estonian airspace in what has been described as a “brazen” intrusion. The Russian MiG-31 fighters remained in Estonian airspace for nearly 12 minutes before Italian F-35s responded, forcing them to retreat. This is the fourth violation of Estonian airspace by Russia this year.

Following the incursion, Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kristen Michal, announced that the government had decided to request NATO Article 4 consultations. This provision calls on all member states to “consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the Parties is threatened.”

Russia's Increasingly Bold Incursions

Russian military incursions along the Eas

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