A Russian fighter aircraft infiltrated Estonian airspace and raised already bitter tensions between Moscow and Tallinn.
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A Russian warplane violated Estonian airspace last Wednesday, in an incident that triggered the immediate response of the NATO surveillance mission, according to authorities in the Baltic country.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna indicated that the aircraft,a Russian Air Force SU-30, entered Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island, in the Gulf of Finland, and stayed there for about a minute before leaving.
Although the government assured that there was no direct threat to national security, the incursion generated a rapid reaction. NATO's Baltic air patrol mission deployed Italian Air Force units to respond to the incident, in line with the alliance's defense protocols in the region
. The Estonian Foreign Minister indicated that the Russian warplane entered its territory and was kept for about a minute.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that this is the first violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft so far this year. However, he recalled that similar episodes have occurred before, including an incursion last September involving three Russian military aircraft for a longer period
.
Following the incident, Estonia summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy in Tallinn to express a formal protest. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry reported that it delivered a diplomatic note condemning the violation and requesting explanations from Moscow. So far, Russian authorities have not commented on what happened
.
The episode takes place in a context of sustained tension between Russia and the countries of the Baltic region, which have reinforced their cooperation with NATO in defense matters since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Ongoing air surveillance and rapid response capacity continue to be key elements to ensure security in this strategic area.
The Russian aircraft that entered Estonian airspace is a SU-30
