Incursion Raises Regional Tensions
Poland has reported that Russian aircraft entered the restricted safety area around an oil platform in the Baltic Sea. The Ministry of Defence described the maneuver as dangerous and carried out without notification, marking another instance of Russian military activity causing concern among NATO members.
NATO Scrambles Jets Over Estonia
In a separate development, NATO confirmed that Italian F-35 fighter jets intercepted Russian MiG-31 planes over Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island. The Russian aircraft were flying without filed flight plans, had their transponders turned off, and did not communicate with local air traffic control. Estonian authorities denounced the incursion as a bold provocation and lodged an official diplomatic complaint with Moscow.
EU Implements Sanctions
The European Union condemned the actions as reckless provocations. In response, it unveiled its 19th sanctions package targeting Russian banks, LNG exports, military-linked companies, and cryptocurrency platforms, while planning a full ban on Russian LNG imports by January 2027. The move reflects growing European alarm over Russian military operations in the Baltic region.
