On Saturday, the 20th of September, NATO scrambled two Eurofighter jets over the Baltic Sea to escort Russian reconnaissance aircraft, and it was the second violation of Estonian airspace in a week, ERR News reports.
The aircraft was an Il-20M that took off from Russia and entered Estonian airspace without making contact. It was identified visually and, according to the German Air Force, refused to communicate.
The German Air Force said that after visual identification, the escort was handed over to Sweden. The Il-20M is equipped with radar, signals intelligence and electronic warfare equipment, which allows it to monitor communications and air defense systems, as well as
collect military intelligence for the needs of the Russian army.
On the 18th of September, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland, staying there for 12 minutes. Estonia considers their entry into its airspace a serious violation and has requested consultations under NATO’s Article 4, which allows for the alliance to convene if any of them believes there is a threat.
On the same day, Poland also reported sightings of Russian fighter jets entering the security zone over an oil platform in the Baltic Sea.
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