NATO scrambles jets to intercept three Putin warplanes over Estonia – as Russia begins threatening Finland ‘in the same way it did Ukraine before the war and laying the groundwork for justifying an invasion’

NATO has scrambled jets to intercept three Putin warplanes over Estonia – as Russia begins threatening Finland ‘in the same way it did Ukraine before the war’, amid fears it is ‘laying the groundwork for justifying an invasion’. 

The defensive alliance rushed to mobilise duty warplanes today to repel the Russian jets which violated its member’s airspace amid an increasingly tense atmosphere on the bloc’s eastern flank. 

And Estonia has now formally requested a NATO Article 4 consultation over the incident – a discussion between allies if any believe ‘the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened’. 

The country’s prime minister Kristen Michal has said the NATO fighters who confronted Russian jets in its airspace were soon ‘forced to flee’. 

He added on X: ‘Such violation is totally unacceptable.’ 

This is only the ninth time in NATO’s nearly 80-year history this procedure has been triggered – and the second in around a week alone. 

Poland also requested an Article 4 consultation earlier this month when Russian drones entered its airspace. 

Before that, the last request was from a group of countries after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy dubbed the incident ‘outrageous’ and urged NATO allies to take ‘strong action’: ‘These are not accidents.’ 

He was referring to recent Russian violations of the member state airspaces of Poland, Romania and Estonia and alleged electoral interference in Moldova and Romania. 

The premier wrote on social media: ‘It requires a systemic response. Strong action must be taken – both collectively and individually by each nation.

‘Russia must feel increasing pain from the world’s pressure, first and foremost through its economy, and that is best ensured by sanctions. 

‘At the same time, Russia’s war losses must continue to rise, which is best achieved by a strong Ukrainian army.

‘I thank everyone who helps. Europe, the United States, the Group of Seven – strong action is required from all.’

It comes as Russia threatens NATO-member Finland with a coordinated information campaign mirroring the exact playbook the Kremlin used to justify its initial invasion of Ukraine, it has been claimed.

Several senior Kremlin figures have been making verbal attacks against Finland in recent days, disparaging the northern European nation as if to lay the groundwork for an offensive, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has warned. 

The latest incursions follow Moscow‘s unprecedented intrusion into both Polish and Romanian airspace in the space of just a few days, triggering condemnation from NATO and a new resolve to stand up to the dictator.

NATO member Estonia said on Friday the three MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace without permission and stayed there for a total of 12 minutes.

Italian F-35 stealth jets, among the most sophisticated warplanes in NATO’s arsenal, were scrambled to repel the Russian fighters. 

And NATO later confirmed Swedish and Finnish quick reaction aircraft also assembled under Eastern Sentry. 

Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said: ‘Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen.

‘Russia’s ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.’

Estonia said it had made a protest to the top Russian diplomat in the country.

NATO spokesperson Alison Hart said: ‘Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. 

‘This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO’s ability to respond.’ 

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte posted to social media to confirm he had spoken to the Estonian prime minister about the incident. 

He said: ‘NATO’s response under Eastern Sentry was quick and decisive.’ 

A statement from the alliance’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Command Operations (SHAPE) said of Russia’s incursion: ‘This is not the type of behaviour one would expect from a professional air force.’ 

It continued: ‘NATO’s Allied Air Command maintained a consolidated air picture and close coordination with Allies throughout the response.

‘As we have stated previously, Eastern Sentry integrates air and ground-based defences and better connects existing activities like air policing into a more coherent defensive posture. That was on display today.’ 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said: ‘Ukraine stands with Estonia in the face of Russia’s reckless intimidation. 

‘I agree with my Estonian friend @Tsahkna that half-measures are no longer enough.

‘Russia must face crushing political and economic pressure. As long as it doesn’t get a really strong response, Moscow will only get more arrogant and aggressive.

‘It’s time to put an end to Putin’s sense of impunity.’

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper also expressed the UK’s solidarity with Estonia after ‘another reckless incursion into Nato airspace by Russia’. 

She said: ‘We must continue to increase pressure on Putin, including driving forward the important new economic sanctions announced by the UK and EU in recent days.’ 

It comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on September 18 the Finnish government’s ‘neutral veneer peeled off’ and revanchism is ‘literally on the rise’.

Sergei Ivanov, special presidential envoy for the environment and transport, said Russian-Finnish relations ‘practically do not exist’ and are unlikely to improve given the fact that Finland is a NATO member and is ‘actively calling for strengthening [its] eastern border’. 

The Finnish government is planning on flooding its borders to transform them into defensive swampland, making it impossible for Russian tanks to attack as any advance would be prevented by their heavy vehicles sinking into swampland.

Poland is also considering the measure, which proved crucial in Ukraine when the military deliberately flooded 2,800 hectares of land in a desperate attempt to stave off the Russian troops advancing towards Kyiv at the beginning of the war. 

Border Force in the NATO country have also now said two Russian fighter jets violated the safety zone of the Petrobaltic oil and gas exploration platform in the Baltic Sea in a low pass over it. 

It said: ‘The Polish Armed Forces and other authorities have been notified.’ 

Finland joined the defensive Western alliance NATO in April 2023 after Putin triggered the biggest war on the European continent since World War Two. The nation also faced invasion from the Soviet Union in 1939.

In further denigrating comments, Ivanov said the Finnish population was unsatisfied with the government’s performance, and claimed the lack of Russian tourism had led to depopulation and a faltering economy in southeastern Finland.

His sentiment was echoed by the deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Alexei Chepa, who blamed Finland’s NATO membership for why Russians have stopped buying property and visiting the Nordic country.

The fact that the Kremlin newswire TASS and other Russian state media outlets echoed the comments of the senior politicians suggests their messages are part of a top-down Kremlin-coordinated campaign to delegitimise Finland.

Disturbingly, the rhetoric used by the ministers directly mirrors the Kremlin’s dubious justifications used to preempt its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the ISW warned.  

The verbal attacks follow the president of Finland’s warm welcoming of NATO’s new ‘Eastern Sentry’ mission to reinforce its eastern flank following mounting aggression from Russia.

NATO members and allies have spoken out in support of Estonia, including EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas. 

She wrote on X: ‘Today’s violation of Estonia’s airspace by Russian military aircraft is an extremely dangerous provocation.

‘This marks the third such violation of EU airspace in days and further escalates tensions in the region.

‘The EU stands in full solidarity with Estonia. I am in close contact with the Estonian government.

‘We will continue to support our member states in strengthening their defences with European resources. Putin is testing the West’s resolve. 

‘We must not show weakness.’

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen connected the incident to the need for a new package of sanctions against Russia proposed earlier today. 

‘Europe stands with Estonia in the face of Russia’s latest violation of our airspace,’ she said. 

‘We will respond to every provocation with determination while investing in a stronger Eastern flank. As threats escalate, so too will our pressure.

‘I call on EU leaders to swiftly approve our 19th sanctions package.’

Meanwhile, European Council president Antonio Costa wrote on X: ‘The European Union stands firmly in solidarity with [Estonia].

‘Today’s violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian military aircraft is another unacceptable provocation.

‘It underscores yet again the urgent need to reinforce our Eastern flank, deepen European defence cooperation, and intensify pressure on Russia.

‘We will address our collective response to Russia’s actions at the informal European Council meeting in Copenhagen on 1 October.’

Kęstutis Budrys, foreign minister of nearby fellow NATO member Lithuania, also weighed in on the incident in Estonia. 

‘Russia directly threatens Euroatlantic security and tests NATO’s limits,’ he said. 

‘Today, 3 Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace. These provocations will only escalate until the Alliance fully transforms Baltic air policing into Baltic air defence, rotational air defense models become a reality and Eastern Sentry comes up and running 24/7.

‘These are not accidents. The Alliance is being tested militarily. We must sharpen NATO’s posture to the point where no one dares to test our deterrence. 

‘#Lithuania stands in full solidarity with our ally #Estonia.’

The country’s defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė also said the incident ‘is one more hard proof that #EasternSentry is long due’. 

‘Nato’s border in the North East is being tested for a reason. We need to mean business,’ she said. 

Referencing an incident in 2015 which saw Turkish air force shoot down a Russian jet for violating its airspace, she continued: ‘PS. Türkiye set an example 10 years ago. Some food for thought.’ 

Meanwhile, former Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, a known critic of EU countries’ statements of concern, said: ‘Russia escalates, we do nothing, Russia escalates more, we do nothing, Russia escalates even more, we do nothing… guys, I think I am starting to see a pattern here.’

Petr Fiala, prime minister of Czechia, also a NATO member, warned: ‘Russia is further escalating tensions on NATO’s eastern border and testing how far it can go.’ 

Imploring the alliance to ‘resolutely strengthen our defence capabilities’, he continued: ‘The violation of Estonian airspace demonstrates the aggression of Putin’s regime.’ 

Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson similarly called it ‘highly concerning’: ‘This incident, like other recent Russian violations of NATO countries’ airspace, once again illustrates the seriousness of the Russian threat to European security and the fact that our and NATO’s readiness is constantly being tested.

‘The Swedish Air Force maintains a standing quick reaction alert to handle incidents such as this. 

‘As a NATO member, Sweden stands in solidarity with our allies and contributes to security in our region.’

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul quoted words thought to be from American founding father Thomas Jefferson: ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.’ 

He wrote on X: ‘This principle of NATO has lost none of its relevance. 

‘The unacceptable violation of Estonian airspace by Russia today demonstrates this with utmost clarity. 

‘I have assured my colleague @Tsahkna of Germany’s full solidarity. 

‘By immediately intercepting the Russian aircraft, we demonstrate: The @NATO is always ready to defend.’ 

A staunch supporter of Ukraine, Tallinn said in May that Moscow had briefly sent a fighter jet into NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea during an attempt to stop a Russian-bound oil tanker thought to be part of a ‘shadow fleet’ defying Western sanctions on Moscow. 

According to domestic media, the war planes lacked two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control and had no flight plans. 

So far, the ‘Eastern Sentry’ operation includes the deployment of two F-16 fighter jets and a frigate from Denmark, three Rafale fighter jets from France and four Eurofighter jets from Germany. 

‘We’re very happy that the Eastern Sentry now begins in Polish airspace. We take lessons learned from there and then expand it all the way up to the high North,’ Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in a press conference this week with his Latvian counterpart.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also been fortifying their borders, adding obstacles and redoubts to existing fences in response to fears about a potential World War III triggered by Putin’s military ambitions.

When complete, the Baltic defence line is estimated to be more than 940 miles long and will limit Russia’s ability to launch attacks from its own territory, Kaliningrad and Belarus.

Between 19 and 23 drones entered Polish airspace on September 9 in an unprecedented intrusion of the country’s territory, with NATO scrambling a multinational force of jets to shoot several down. 

In the wake of the incursion, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that the West is at its closest to open conflict since World War Two

Romania then accused Russia of breaching its airspace on September 13, as Latvia reported a drone crashing in its east. 

On Monday, Poland said a civilian drone flew over its presidential palace and government buildings, describing the incident as another ‘provocation’. A Belarusian and a Ukrainian were arrested.

Meanwhile, Putin has put NATO further on edge by conducting war games with Belarus as part of the Zapad 2025 drills, which have historically been used to test different military strategies ahead of invasions.

Long a staunch Russian ally, President Alexander Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarus to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, and has since allowed Russia to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

The exercises, which began on September 12 and concluded on Wednesday, unnerved neighbouring countries, with Poland temporarily closing its border with Belarus and deploying some 40,000 troops there in anticipation of hostility. 

In Finland, there are some obvious locations that could be considered for restoring the nation’s swampland as a defensive measure, such as swathes of land drained for forestry that failed to grow any trees. 

Peatlands are unique ecosystems that naturally store large amounts of carbon dioxide. But if drained, they exude centuries’ worth of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing towards global warming. 

That’s why the bloc is prioritising restoring 30 percent of degraded peatlands over the next five years, and 50 percent by 2050 – to slow climate change, promote biodiversity, and now, ready border nations for potential war.

NATO jets recently intercepted two Russian SU-30 warplanes carrying supersonic missiles over the Baltic Sea. 

The Swedish Airforce announced that its JAS 39 Gripen fighters, backed by Danish F-16s, intercepted two Russian combat aircraft believed to be armed with KH-31 missiles – a supersonic anti-radiation weapon designed to destroy ships and air defences units.

An Il-20 signals intelligence aircraft was also identified in the joint mission and swiftly escorted away.