Germany scrambled two Eurofighter jets on Sunday to intercept a Russian Il-20M reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea after it ignored repeated requests to establish contact. The Russian aircraft had switched off its transponders while flying in international airspace, raising concerns among NATO members.
Estonia condemned the incident as “brazen” and announced an emergency UN Security Council meeting, the first in 34 years of its membership. The Estonian foreign minister described the flight as part of a broader pattern of Russian escalation, citing previous airspace violations in Poland and Romania. Tallinn has also requested consultations under NATO’s Article 4, which allows members to meet when their security is threatened.
The incident comes amid broader tensions between NATO and Russia, with multiple European leaders warning of the risk of further provocations. Estonia’s defense minister noted that Russia appears intent on diverting Western attention from Ukraine to its immediate borders. NATO officials and regional leaders have urged a measured but firm response to deter further aggression.