Ilayda Cakirtekin
19 March 2026•Update: 19 March 2026
ISTANBUL
The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's charge d’affaires on Thursday after a fighter jet allegedly violated the country's airspace.
"Today, 19 March, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d’affaires ad interim of the Russian Federation in Estonia to express a protest and deliver a note regarding the violation of Estonian airspace on 18 March," said a written statement from the ministry.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also wrote on the US social media platform X that "Russian SU-30 fighter jet violated Estonia's airspace near Vaindloo Island on March 18, remaining for about one minute."
He added that NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission responded swiftly along with the deployment of units from the Italian Air Force .
Tsahkna reaffirmed that there was no threat to the country's security.
The ministry added that it was the "first violation of Estonian airspace by an aircraft of the Russian Federation this year."
Russia has yet to comment on the alleged incident.
