A Russian Su-30 warplane violated Estonian airspace. The incident occurred near an island in the Gulf of Finland. The aircraft had no flight plan and did not communicate with the Estonian side.
Violation of airspace
A Russian Su-30 fighter jet has entered the Estonian airspace near an island in the Gulf of Finland. This is the first recorded incident of its kind in 2026, according to the Estonian news agency ERR.
The aircraft was in Estonian airspace for approximately one minute. During the flight, it did not have an approved plan and did not maintain radio contact with Estonian air traffic controllers.
Estonia's response
Estonian services record such violations as a potential threat to the country's security. Information about the incident was passed on to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
The Estonian authorities traditionally send notes of protest to the Russian side in case of border violations. Such incidents increase tensions between the Baltic states and Russia.
Context.
Airspace violations by neighbouring countries are regularly reported in the Baltic region. NATO is stepping up its patrols of the Baltic skies in response to such incidents.
Russia has repeatedly been accused of provocations near the borders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In 2026, this was the first documented case of a Russian military aircraft violating Estonian airspace.
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