Estonian Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, called for a "strong response" after three Russian military jets violated NATO member Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on Friday (September 19).

It was an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion, the Estonian government said, the latest in a series of recent military actions by Russia that have rattled the alliance.

With tensions already high because of the war in Ukraine, the incursion came just over a week after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on the night of Sept. 9-10. That prompted NATO jets to down some of them and Western officials to say Russia was testing the alliance's readiness and resolve.

It also occurred three days after Russia and Belarus ended their "Zapad-2025" joint military exercises, which included the rehearsal of the launch of Russian nuclear weapons.

Tallinn said the three MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission and stayed for a total of 12 minutes before they were forced to withdraw, a period during which the high-speed aircraft could have traversed broad swaths of the country.

The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its jets routinely fly over the Baltic Sea between mainland Russia and its exclave of Kaliningrad.

Separately, Poland said on Friday two Russian fighter jets violated the safety zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea.

Estonia said it had summoned the top Russian diplomat in the country to lodge a protest and deliver a note.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask NATO to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, and that the Russian jets flew around 5 nautical miles (9 km) into NATO airspace before Italian F-35s, currently stationed at a base in Estonia, pushed them out.

NATO polices the airspace of Estonia and other Baltic nations in its "Baltic Sentry" mission.

"We consider it essential to consult with our Allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps. The entire Alliance is treating this incident seriously," Michal said.

Tsahkna suggested that Estonia would be asking allies for more air defenses. "It was a very clear provocation. It was definitely meant like this. And that's why we are calling the Article 4 political consultations," he told Reuters.

Article 4 states that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARGUS TSAHKNA, SAYING:

"It was a very clear provocation, it was definitely meant like this and that's why we are calling as well Article 4 political consultations so that if you put everything together, what has happened during the last couple of weeks, I mean as well, the attacks against Poland with the 19 drones - so this already systematical NATO test and that's why we asked NATO allies, they are showing as well very clear unity amongst NATO as well lets discuss what can we do for the Baltic states and the eastern flank because it is clear that Putin has started on a new level of testing NATO and a new level of provocations so this is a adequate response from our side."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARGUS TSAHKNA, SAYING:

"Putin only understands the language of strength and also we're talking about the Russian aggression against Ukraine so we need to increase the military support to Ukraine, we need to increase the pressure to Putin using more sanctions, more tariffs. Also we need to decide finally to start using the Russian frozen assets and if we're talking about his provocations against NATO, we must show that we are united - we are ready, we are able to increase our capabilities."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARGUS TSAHKNA, SAYING:

"For us as well it is important that NATO shows and gives a message to Putin but also publicly to our allies that NATO is united and that we take this situation very seriously because he situation is very serious."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARGUS TSAHKNA, SAYING:

"Now we need as well military planning for more capabilities (INAUDIBLE) and also capabilities. But also it is very important that NATO shows the unity amongst membership and also it's a very clear message to Putin that he cannot push the lines all the time. So, twelve minutes violation - heavy violation - of NATO airspace needs a solid response on a political level and as well on a practical level."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MARGUS TSAHKNA, SAYING:

"If a Russian fighter jets enter into the NATO airspace, so it is a threat. And also NATO responded in a very adequate way, NATO fighters went up and of course we have all the readiness to respond but yes, happily they were escorted after twelve minutes out from NATO airspace. And if you have Russian fighters in your airspace, if you ask is it a threat, of course it is a threat."

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (FILE - APRIL 15, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

10. EXTERIOR OF LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY

11. SIGN OUTSIDE MINISTRY BUILDING READING (Lithuanian): “WE ARE NATO”

12. LITHUANIAN, EU, AND NATO FLAGS

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (SEPTEMBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, DOVILE SAKALIENE, SAYING:

"I think that the Eastern Sentry operation needs to be full capabilities that are now owned by the alliance distributed as fast as possible along the border of Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. We are currently facing situation that we are being tested every day.”

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (FILE- APRIL 15, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

14. EU AND NATO FLAGS

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (SEPTEMBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, DOVILE SAKALIENE, SAYING:

"It is not really of crucial importance if drones or aircrafts entering our territory are lost, or they are disoriented by Ukrainian air defence, or they are provocations. In any case, they are a direct threat to the safety of our citizens. Therefore, we really need to be protected and feel protected.”

16. WHITE FLASH

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, DOVILE SAKALIENE, SAYING:

"Eastern Sentry is a very good first step. Now we need to ensure that the scope of that operation is enough. And also if Estonians, if Estonians finally reach a conclusion after they are currently ongoing considerations that they also want to invoke Article 4, then we need think what could be done to ensure that Russia does not miscalculate our behaviour for undecisive or hesitation because that could cost us a lot.”

TALLINN, ESTONIA (FILE - DECEMBER 16, 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)

18. EXTERIOR OF RUSSIAN EMBASSY

19. VARIOUS OF BANNERS OUTSIDE EMBASSY READING (English): "YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE" AND "STOP WAR"

20. RUSSIAN FLAG FLYING

21. POLICE CAR PARKED NEAR EMBASSY