Security Alert in the Baltic Sea
Polish authorities reported that Russian military aircraft entered the restricted safety zone of an oil platform in the Baltic Sea. The Ministry of Defence described the maneuver as unsafe and carried out without prior authorization, raising concerns about continued Russian military activity near NATO borders.
NATO Scrambles to Intercept in Estonia
In a separate development, NATO confirmed that Italian F-35 fighter jets intercepted Russian MiG-31 aircraft over Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island. The Russian planes reportedly flew without flight plans, switched off their transponders, and failed to communicate with local air traffic control. Estonia condemned the incident as a deliberate provocation and filed an official protest with Moscow.
EU Responds With Sanctions
The European Union criticized the airspace breach as a serious threat to regional stability. In response, the EU rolled out its 19th sanctions package targeting Russian banks, military-linked firms, LNG exports, and cryptocurrency platforms. The package also includes a full ban on Russian LNG imports beginning January 2027, reflecting growing European concern over Russia’s actions in the Baltic region.
