Estonia Calls UN Security Council Emergency Meeting After Russian Jets Violate Airspace

Estonia’s foreign ministry announced Sunday that the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting this week after three Russian MiG-31 fighters crossed into its airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday.

The incident prompted sharp protests from the European Union and NATO, while Moscow denied any violation. Italian F-35s deployed under NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission, along with Swedish and Finnish aircraft, were scrambled to intercept and escort the Russian jets out of the area.

“This is a brazen violation of Estonian sovereignty,” the ministry said, confirming the meeting is set for September 22. It is the first time in Estonia’s 34 years of UN membership that the country has formally requested such a session.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the incursion as “part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally,” citing recent airspace breaches in Poland and Romania. He urged a coordinated international response.