Estonia protests to Russia over helicopter airspace violation | News

Estonia additionally known as for Russian troops to go away Ukraine, and expressed solidarity with fellow Baltic nation Lithuania.

NATO member Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador to protest an “extraordinarily severe” violation of its airspace by a Russian border guard helicopter, the international ministry stated.

The Estonian international ministry and navy stated on Tuesday {that a} Russian border guard MI-8 helicopter had flown over a degree within the nation’s southeast with out permission on June 18.

The incident marks the second time in lower than two weeks that Estonia has reprimanded Moscow’s envoy to Tallinn.

“Estonia considers this an especially severe and regrettable incident that undoubtedly causes extra tensions and is totally unacceptable,” the ministry stated in a press release.

“Russia should cease threatening its neighbours and perceive that the value of the aggression Russia launched towards Ukraine is certainly excessive,” the ministry added.

The assertion additionally repeated requires Russian troops to go away Ukraine and expressed solidarity with fellow Baltic nation Lithuania, which Moscow says shall be punished for banning the transit of some items – on European Union sanctions lists – to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

A high ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin informed Lithuania that it will really feel ache for banning the transit of products sanctioned by the EU throughout its territory to and from Kaliningrad.

Estonia’s navy stated in a press release that the Russian MI-8 helicopter entered the nation’s airspace in southeastern Estonia within the Koidula space – not removed from the Russian metropolis of Pskov – with out permission on Saturday night.

The helicopter was in Estonia’s airspace for nearly two minutes, Estonia’s navy stated, including that the helicopter had not offered a flight plan, had its transponder switched off, and failed to take care of radio contact with Estonian Air Navigation Companies.

The alleged intrusion was the second violation of Estonia’s airspace this yr.

Final yr, Russian plane – navy and civilian – violated Estonia’s airspace 5 occasions, the navy stated.

Estonia additionally complained to Moscow’s envoy on June 10 about Putin’s reward for an 18th-century Russian ruler who captured a metropolis that’s now Estonian.

Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia belonged to the Russian empire earlier than gaining independence within the aftermath of World Struggle One.

In 1940, the Soviet Union annexed the three nations which didn’t regain their independence till 1991.