Reports of airspace incursions by Russian military aircraft have escalated tensions in the Baltic region, with both Estonia and Poland reporting separate incidents within a short timeframe.
Estonian officials confirmed that three Russian military jets violated Estonian airspace on Friday, remaining within the territory for approximately twelve minutes. The incursion has been described as a “particularly blatant” incident, occurring against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical sensitivity along NATO’s eastern flank. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced her intention to initiate consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty in response to the event.
Shortly after the Estonian announcement, Polish border authorities reported a separate incident. According to a statement released Friday evening, two Russian fighter jets flew at low altitude into the safety zone surrounding the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea. Polish armed forces and relevant services were notified, although it appears the Polish airspace itself was not breached.
These incidents follow a recent event last week when Poland, supported by fighter jets from NATO allies, reportedly shot down suspected Russian drones within its own airspace. The series of airspace violations underscores a pattern of increased military activity in the region and presents a complex challenge to the ongoing stability of the area.