Two Russian MIG-31 fighter jets violated the security zone around a Polish oil and gas platform in the Baltic Sea belonging to Petrobaltic on Friday. Simultaneously, three other Russian fighter jets violated Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes.
The incidents come just one week after suspected Russian drones entered Polish airspace, where several were shot down. Subsequent investigations have shown that most of the drones did not carry explosives, but were merely intended to test Poland and NATO’s reaction.
The security zone around offshore platforms is intended to protect the crew and the environment, but is also a reminder that the platforms are legally the territory of the flag state, and that violations are therefore equivalent to intrusion into national airspace.
The violation of Latvian airspace has prompted the Latvian government to request consultations under NATO’s Article Four – which is the second-highest crisis level.
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