Estonia – Violation of Estonian airspace by Russian military aircraft (19 September 2025)

On the morning of 19 September, three Russian military aircraft violated Estonia’s airspace above the Gulf of Finland. NATO’s Air Policing assets were mobilized to escort them out of Estonia’s airspace.

France utterly condemns this dangerous, irresponsible incursion into the airspace of a European Union Member State and NATO ally, constituting a further provocation on Russia’s part, in flagrant violation of international law. This incursion into Estonia has been unprecedented for more than 20 years. France expresses its friendship and wholehearted solidarity to the Estonian authorities and people.

France has been directly contributing to Estonia’s security by deploying military capabilities in the country since 2017, as shown by the deployment of a French battalion. Alongside other allies, the battalion is currently conducting the multinational Exercise Pikne, and therefore directly contributing to the defence of European territory.