NATO scrambles as Russian jets breach Baltic airspace; Polish offshore platform targeted in latest provocation

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for about 12 minutes in a brazen display of force that authorities described as reckless and aimed at testing the Baltic state’s defenses. The incursion occurred over Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland and prompted NATO to scramble Italian F-35s to intercept the intruders. Estonian officials said the fighters did not file flight plans and turned off their transponders during the operation.

Estonian authorities said the jets crossed into Estonian airspace by roughly five miles before returning to Russian airspace. In response, Estonia summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires in Tallinn to protest the incursion and handed over a formal demarche. Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Estonia had decided to request NATO Article 4 consultations, a step that would bring the 32-member alliance into formal talks on collective defense in light of the threat.

Separately, two Russian jets conducted a low pass over the Polish-owned Petrobaltic offshore production facility in the Baltic, breaching its safety zone. Polish armed forces were alerted, and the incident added to a string of provocations as NATO allies warn of Russia’s efforts to test borders in the region.

The EU’s foreign policy leadership joined in the condemnation, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling Friday’s incursion “an extremely dangerous provocation” that “further escalates tensions in the region.” She added that Putin was “testing the West’s resolve” and warned that “we must not show weakness,” stressing that the EU would continue to support member states in strengthening defenses with European resources."