The Norwegian government disclosed that Russia breached the country’s airspace on three occasions this year, marking the first such incidents in over a decade, according to an official government statement.

The announcement came as NATO unanimously condemned Russian airspace violations against alliance members during a North Atlantic Council meeting on 23 September, convened at Estonia’s request following a 19 September incident.

“This year, in spring and summer, Russia violated Norway’s airspace three times,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. “The incidents in Norway are less extensive than violations against Estonia, Poland and Romania, both in terms of location and duration. However, we take these incidents very seriously.”

The three violations occurred on 25 April, 24 July, and 18 August, representing the first such breaches of Norwegian airspace in more than ten years, the government stated.

On 25 April, a Russian Su-24 fighter jet entered Norwegian airspace over maritime areas northeast of Vardø, remaining in Norwegian airspace for four minutes. The July incident involved a Russian L410 Turbolet aircraft flying over uninhabited territory along the border in the eastern part of Finnmark region for three minutes. In August, a Russian Su-33 fighter crossed through Norwegian airspace over maritime areas northeast of Vardø for one minute.

Following these incidents, Norwegian authorities engaged with Russian officials “directly and clearly” to discuss the violations “with the aim of reducing the risk of misunderstandings and escalation,” the government said.

The NATO meeting addressed what the alliance termed dangerous Russian airspace violations. During the UN Security Council session called over the Estonia incident, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper declared that “NATO is ready to respond” to Russian military aircraft violating alliance airspace.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called for more decisive NATO action in response to Russian airspace violations, including “neutralization of hostile targets.” Czech President Petr Pavel previously expressed his belief that NATO “should respond militarily” to Russian violations.

The Estonian incident prompted the North Atlantic Council session under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which allows members to request consultations when they believe their territorial integrity or security is threatened.

Poland says two Russian fighter jets flew low over a Polish offshore oil platform in the Baltic Sea on 19 September. Earlier the same day, Russian military aircraft violated Estonia’s airspace.

Russian jets violate safety zone over Polish oil platform

According to the Polish Border Service, the two Russian warplanes carried out a low-altitude flyover of a platform operated by Petrobaltic in the Baltic Sea. The aircraft violated the platform’s designated safety zone. Petrobaltic is a Polish company involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The border guards did not specify the exact model of the aircraft involved in the incident.

The incident occurred on 19 September 2025 and was publicly reported by the Polish Border Service on X at 18:45 local time. In its post, the agency stated:

“Two Russian fighter jets carried out a low-altitude flyover above the Petrobaltic platform in the Baltic Sea. The safety zone of the platform was violated. The Polish Armed Forces and other services have been notified.”

Pattern of provocations continues

The airspace breach near the Polish platform took place just hours after a separate violation of Estonia’s airspace. On the same day, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets reportedly entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission.

Estonian officials said the aircraft remained in their airspace for approximately 12 minutes and flew near Tallinn before Italian F-35 jets operating under NATO command were scrambled to intercept them.

More than a week earlier, multiple Russian military drones violated Polish airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble and shoot down some of the drones. Later, a Russian drone also entered Romanian airspace.