For the third time in a week: Putin tests NATO’s borders in Eastern Europe.

On the evening of Friday, September 19, 2025, Estonia reported a violation of its airspace by three Russian fighter jets. This incident occurred in the Gulf of Finland area and attracted the attention of the country’s officials.

Incident with Russian Fighter Jets

It is reported that three MiG-31 fighters crossed Estonia’s borders without permission and were in its airspace for 12 minutes. This case was announced by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by CNN data.

The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna, commented on the incident, noting that Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times this year. This latest action, involving three fighters at once, was called “brazen” by him. Tsahkna also emphasized the need to strengthen political and economic pressure on Russia in response to its actions.

Reaction of the European Union

Soon, at a meeting in Copenhagen scheduled for October 1, European Union leaders will discuss a common response to cases of Russian airspace violations. The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, characterized the situation as an unacceptable provocation on his X page.

Costa added that this incident once again underscores the urgent need to strengthen the EU’s eastern flank and increase security in the region.

Further Steps

The Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, also condemned the incident, stating that this is the third such provocation in recent days, increasing tensions in the region. Kallas pointed to Europe’s unity in supporting Estonia and emphasized that Vladimir Putin’s actions call into question the West’s resolve. It is necessary to avoid displays of weakness, she asserts.

Additional Measures Against Russia

On the same day, the European Commission proposed a new package of sanctions against Russia, citing, among other reasons, the violation of airspace. This demonstrates the readiness of European countries for more decisive actions in response to aggression.

Escalation of the Situation in Eastern Europe

The incident with the fighters occurred after Russian drones were spotted in the airspace of Poland and Romania this month, leading to NATO’s promise to strengthen defense in Eastern Europe. On September 24, a Russian drone invaded Romanian airspace, prompting Romanian fighters to take to the air.

The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador, Vladimir Lipaev, for explanations regarding the incident.

Additionally, on September 27, NATO air forces shot down several Russian drones that violated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine, marking NATO’s first active response since the beginning of the conflict.