Security Breach in Baltic Waters
Poland has accused Russian aircraft of entering the safety perimeter around a Baltic Sea oil platform. The Ministry of Defence described the maneuver as unsafe and carried out without prior coordination, adding to concerns over ongoing Russian military activity in the region.
NATO Scrambles Fighters Over Estonia
Separately, NATO confirmed that Italian F-35 jets intercepted Russian MiG-31 aircraft over Estonia near Vaindloo Island. The planes reportedly operated without flight plans, had their transponders switched off, and did not communicate with local air traffic authorities. Estonia condemned the incident as a deliberate provocation and filed a diplomatic protest with Moscow.
EU Condemns Actions and Expands Sanctions
European Union officials labeled the airspace violations as dangerous and destabilizing. In response, the EU introduced its 19th sanctions package targeting Russian banks, military-linked firms, LNG exports, and cryptocurrency platforms, including a complete ban on Russian LNG imports by January 2027. The sanctions reflect growing European concern over Russia’s military operations in the Baltic region.
