Moscow : Russia confirmed that three MiG-31 fighter jets flew from Karelia to Kaliningrad without violating international airspace.
The Defence Ministry posted on Telegram on Saturday that the Friday flight followed a pre-scheduled plan. Monitoring systems confirmed that the jets respected all borders, Xinhua reported.
The announcement came after Estonia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires on Friday. Estonia claimed the MiG-31s had violated its airspace over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Tallinn would seek NATO consultations under Article 4. This article allows members to discuss threats to territorial integrity or security.
Russia’s Defence Ministry rejected the claims, emphasizing that the jets completed a planned flight in strict compliance with international airspace rules. The ministry said monitoring systems verified no borders were breached.
Tensions rose between NATO and Russia last week after Poland and Romania reported Russian drones entering their airspace. NATO confirmed that its jets intercepted the Russian aircraft over Estonia.
A NATO spokesperson said, “Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted them. This shows both reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s readiness.”
Under its “Baltic Sentry” mission, NATO patrols the skies over Estonia and other Baltic states. The mission ensures security and rapid response to airspace incursions.
The incident underscores ongoing friction between Russia and NATO in the Baltic region. Both sides maintain a strong military presence with frequent patrols and rapid interceptions.
Russia reiterated that the MiG-31 transfer followed all aviation rules and posed no threat to NATO members. The defence ministry called for calm and further dialogue to prevent misunderstandings.
–IANS
