NATO still probing whether Russia invaded Estonia and Poland's airspace on purpose – Secretary General
Photo: Mark Rutte (GettyImages)
NATO is still investigating whether Russia deliberately attacked the airspace of Estonia and Poland, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says.
According to him, it is currently unknown who is behind the drone incursions in Denmark.
"When it comes to Poland and Estonia, it is clear that it is the Russians. Still we are assessing whether it is intentional or not, but even if it is not intentional, it is reckless and it is unacceptable," he says.
Rutte insists that NATO countries must protect their airspace, calling the drone wall initiative timely and necessary.
Russian air provocations
On the morning of September 19, 3 MiG-31 fighter jets of the Russian Air Force flew into Estonian airspace without permission. The incident was recorded immediately after the planes entered the country's territory.
Italian Air Force F-35 fighter jets stationed in Emari as part of NATO's mission to patrol the airspace of the Baltic countries responded promptly to the incident. The planes escorted the Russian MiG-31s out of Estonian territory, preventing further violations.
2 more Russian fighter jets were spotted over the Petrobaltic oil and gas platform in the Baltic Sea. This happened within Polish territorial waters.
Lithuania suggested shooting down planes that invaded NATO airspace, recalling the incident in Türkiye in 2015. At that time, a Russian Su-25 was shot down after crossing the airspace.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that his country was ready to destroy any hostile objects that invaded its airspace. The same was stated by the British Ministry of Defense.
Russia cynically rejected accusations of violating airspace. The Kremlin stated that there were allegedly no violations and that Russian military aircraft fly strictly within international rules.
