Russian pilots ignored signals from Italian fighter jets during an airspace incursion over Estonia, according to a senior Estonian military official.
The incident lasted 12 minutes, marking the latest test of NATO’s ability to respond to Russian aerial threats, following the entry of around 20 Russian drones into Polish airspace on 10 September.
The Russian Ministry of Defense denied any violation of Estonian airspace. However, Tallinn confirmed the breach using both radar data and visual contact, Associated Press reported.
Estonian officials suggested that the move could be part of a deliberate Russian tactic to divert Western resources away from Ukraine at a critical moment in the war.
