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Secretary General Vseviov: In the future, Russia must consider the possibility that fighter jets violating airspace will be shot down

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

21.09.2025 | 11:31

Secretary General Vseviov: In the future, Russia must consider the possibility that fighter jets violating airspace will be shot down

"What happened this past Friday—when three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian and therefore NATO airspace—is a serious breach which cannot be dismissed as a technical error. Estonia treats this as a direct challenge to NATO's collective security, and that's why we are invoking NATO Article 4. The message must be clear: if violations like this happen again, we are ready to respond—including, if necessary, by shooting down intruding aircraft. This is not just about Estonia's border—it is NATO's border, and it will be defended.

Russia may have denied the incursion, but this cannot be interpreted as anything close to normal. This was not a brief crossing—it was a deliberate, extended violation. Twelve minutes in our airspace might not mean much to citizens of larger nations, but in Estonia, that is just seconds from our capital. The proximity and duration matter.

At no point during or after those twelve minutes was the situation out of control. NATO procedures worked. Allied jets shadowed the intruders and guided them out. The response was swift, coordinated, and entirely appropriate.

But we must keep in mind that this is not an isolated event. Only days ago, Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace, prompting NATO Article 4 consultations and the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry—a clear signal intended to deter further aggression. That signal, it seems, did not have the desired effect. Whether this was an error or a provocation, the fact remains: Russian jets entered our skies.

Estonia will take the necessary steps to ensure this never happens again. Russia must understand clearly and unambiguously that it cannot violate our airspace. That message must be received at every level, from high command to the last pilot. We believed we had made this clear. As of Friday, it was not clear enough.

That is why Estonia is now calling for Article 4 consultations—to strengthen deterrence collectively through NATO. The alliance's solidarity with Estonia is unwavering. Our allies are prepared to discuss, plan, and implement the additional measures needed to ensure our security.

Russia's behavior has been described by many Western leaders as reckless—and that is precisely what it is. This cannot continue. The next time, consequences could escalate, and yes, the downing of intruding aircraft is a possibility. The capability exists. The will to defend our airspace exists.

NATO's purpose is not aggression. It is to draw clear lines—lines that cannot be crossed without consequence. If previous actions have failed to deliver that message, then our response must be recalibrated. The capacity to defend Estonia is not in question. What's needed now is clarity—so that there is no doubt, and no next time."