The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued a response to Estonia’s accusations that three Russian MiG-31 interceptor jets — capable of carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles — allegedly violated the country’s airspace.

In its official statement, the ministry confirmed that the flights did take place but stressed that they were part of a scheduled mission carried out strictly in accordance with international airspace regulations and without crossing into foreign territory. The ministry pointed to data from objective monitoring systems as proof.

According to the MoD, on September 19 three MiG-31s flew from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad Region. Officials emphasized that the flight route adhered to international norms for airspace use and did not breach the borders of any other country.

The accusations came a day earlier, when Estonia claimed that Russian aircraft had spent around 12 minutes in its airspace. Tallinn summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires and handed over a note of protest. Estonia also requested consultations with NATO allies under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty.

The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly maintained that its military aviation operates in strict compliance with international rules — over neutral waters, away from commercial flight paths, without border violations or dangerous proximity to foreign aircraft.