Russian helicopter violates Estonian airspace

A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter has reportedly violated Estonian airspace near the island of Vaindlo in the Gulf of Finland. The Estonian military command said in a statement issued in Tallinn on Monday, September 8, that the incident occurred around noon on September 7.

The helicopter reportedly entered Estonian airspace over the Baltic Sea and stayed there for about 4 minutes, without informing air traffic control. This has led to tense relations between the neighboring countries.

In turn, the Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires in the country and formally lodged a protest. The head of the department, Margus Tsahkna, described the incident as "another serious and regrettable incident" and "a clear violation of international law."

The Estonian Foreign Ministry said that this is the third violation of airspace by Russia this year. In particular, similar incidents occurred on May 13 and June 22. Also, at the end of August, fragments of a military drone were found in Estonian territory.

According to experts, such incidents pose a serious threat to the security of the European Union and NATO member states. This can lead to further tensions in regional security.

The violation of Estonian airspace by a Russian helicopter has further strained relations between the two countries. The Estonian side emphasizes the inadmissibility of such actions and calls for respect for international law. This can seriously affect the political and military balance in the European region.