German jets intercept Russian aircraft over Estonian Baltic Sea

Two German fighter jets were scrambled on Sunday to intercept a Russian Il-20M aircraft over the Baltic Sea, the latest in a series of Russian military incursions into NATO airspace.

Germany intercepts Russian jets in Estonian airspace

NATO called upon two German Eurofighter jets to intercept a Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea in Estonian airspace on Sunday, September 21. The German air force had tried to make contact with the Russian II-20M jet, but requests were ignored and transponders turned off.

The two Eurofighter jets took off from the Laage airbase in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, to head off the planes. Similarly, on Friday, September 19, three Russian MiG-31 jets had flown into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland.

Estonian authorities said Russia’s action was “brazen” and that Estonia would convene a UN Security Council meeting for the first time in 34 years since the country joined the UN. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the incursion was “part of a broader pattern of escalation by Russia, both regionally and globally”.

Russia intends to distract us, says Estonia

Since an estimated 23 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on September 9, nearby allies to Ukraine have been on high alert. Speaking of the events on September 9, Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer said, “Whether it was intentional or not, Putin will be watching our reaction carefully. Putin is testing our alliances with this airspace violation.”

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski agreed that Russia was taking “incremental” steps to test Ukraine’s closest allies. Since the Polish incursion, Bloomberg reported that the Kremlin sees US President Donald Trump as unlikely to boost support for Ukraine.

Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said the airspace incursions are primarily a means of distraction and an attempt to provoke a more immediate threat to Ukraine’s closest allies. “This is exactly what Russia wants – to divert our attention away from helping Ukraine and to focus on our own backyard. That’s the key goal,” said Pevkur.