The three Russian MiG-3 fighters that violated Estonian airspace on September 19 may have penetrated deeper than previously reported, the British newspaper The Times writes.
As reported by the commander of the NATO air patrol mission, Lieutenant Colonel Gaetano Farina, to the Defense One publication, the MiG-31s were intercepted over land and were apparently heading towards Tallinn.
The same information was confirmed to the journalists of the British publication by a European diplomat.
The publication does not provide other details about the incident.
Estonia previously reported that on September 19, three MiG-31s entered Estonia over the Gulf of Finland near the island of Vaindlo, which is located about 81 kilometers from Helsinki, within 12 minutes.
Estonian intelligence later reported that the Russian MiG pilots ignored signals from Italian fighter jets patrolling the country's airspace.
The Russian Defense Ministry denied the violation of airspace, calling the incident a “scheduled flight“ over the Baltic Sea.
The EU and NATO criticized the violation of Estonian airspace by the three Russian MiG-31s. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Europe “will respond decisively to any Russian provocation“.
The Russian MiG-31 fighters that invaded Estonia were flying towards the capital Tallinn
Estonian intelligence later reported that the Russian MiG pilots ignored signals from Italian fighters patrolling the country's airspace
Sep 29, 2025 19:23 248
