The aircraft had no flight plan, its transponder was off, and it ignored radio contact attempts.
The incident occurred following an intervention by the Estonian navy concerning a Russian tanker called "Jaguar," which was sailing without a flag and insurance, raising suspicions.
The tanker, reportedly part of the so-called "shadow fleet," was being escorted by the Estonian navy and was asked to change course for inspection.
Estonian Foreign Minister Hanno Pevkur said the Russian fighter jet was deployed to protect the tanker and described the airspace violation as unprecedented.
In response, NATO jets stationed at Ämari air base were scrambled to identify the intruding aircraft. Estonia has also summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires to protest the breach.
The tanker "Jaguar," currently near the Russian port of Primorsk, reportedly flies under the flag of Gabon.
Pevkur warned that the situation in the Baltic Sea is evolving and called for continued NATO operations in the region, describing the shadow fleet as a real threat that Russia is prepared to defend militarily.
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Source: IAR/X/@Kaitsevagi