Putin sends three fighter jets into NATO airspace in 'unprecedented' incursion

Vladimir Putin has sent three fighter jets into a NATO member's airspace in an "unprecedently brutal" escalation.

The MIG-31 jets entered Estonia's airspace on Friday morning without permission from the NATO member. These Russia aircraft reportedly flew over the Vaindloo Island area and stayed in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes. The jets did not have two-way radio communication with local air traffic controllers and their transponders turned off. Officials in Estonia blasted Putin's government for the violation and marked the incursion "unprecedentedly brutal".

Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, said Russian diplomats had been summoned following the shocking escalation, ERR reports.

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Tsahkna said: "Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which in itself is unacceptable, but today's violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brutal.

"Russia's increasing border testing and aggression must be met with rapid reinforcement of political and economic pressure."

The Kremlin has continued to taunt NATO member states through a series of aggressive acts.

Russian drones were shot down last Wednesday after crossing into Polish airspace, in another incursion into NATO territory. The UK government slapped new sanctions on Moscow following last week's violation.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The UK will not stand idly by as Putin continues his barbaric invasion of Ukraine. His complete disregard for sovereignty has been shown this week when he recklessly sent drones into NATO airspace.

"The security of NATO and Ukraine are crucial to the UK’s security – an integral part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. International action to increase economic pressure on Russia and to cut off critical cash flows which he desperately needs to pay for this illegal war is vital."

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that it marked a terrifying step towards conflict with the Russian dictator. He said: "This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two."

Last week's incident marked the first time Russian drones were downed over NATO territory since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

In response to the incursion, Warsaw invoked NATO's Article 4 on Thursday, which calls for discussions among allies over threats to territorial security. This is a step short of Article 5, which requires collective military defence from allies if a member state is attacked.

Tensions between the Kremlin and the West have continued to rise as one of Putin's spokesmen claimed NATO countries are "at war with Russia" over Ukraine.

Dmitry Peskov, speaking to Russian state media on Monday, said: "NATO is at war with Russia. This is obvious, and it does not require any additional evidence. NATO provides direct and indirect support to the Kyiv regime."