Russian aircraft ignored NATO signals during Estonia airspace breach

The Associated Press reported the information.

Colonel Ants Kiviselg, the commander of Estonia’s Military Intelligence Center, said the Russian pilots did not pose a “military threat.” Despite receiving messages from the Italian pilots, the MiG-31s apparently ignored the instructions, which partly explains why they remained in Estonian airspace for an extended period.

He added that it still “needs to be confirmed” whether the border violation was intentional. Regardless, he said, Russian jets “must have known that they are in (Estonian) airspace.”

“Why they didn’t do it, that’s a question for the Russian pilots,” Kiviselg emphasized.

• On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets illegally entered Estonian airspace. Estonia’s government has called for consultations with NATO under Article 4. The alliance is set to convene the North Atlantic Council next week.