DISINFO: False flag violations of airspace used by the Western elites to provoke war with Russia
SUMMARY
They [the Western elites] want war with Russia so they're using false flag operations around planes in Estonia to make us swallow their lies... A few days ago, it was drones in Poland, then in Romania, now planes in Estonia...
RESPONSE
Labelling Russia's violation of Estonia's airspace a false flag intended to create a casus belli for attacking Russia is yet another example of repeated denial and narrative reversal, that aims only to distort the facts and deflect responsibility.
Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets penetrated Estonian airspace on the morning of Friday, 19 September 2025, in what officials in Tallinn described as the most flagrant violation of the Baltic state’s borders since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion against Ukraine.
The aircraft entered near Vaindloo Island over the Gulf of Finland shortly after 9 a.m. on 19 September, flying without flight plans, transponders, or radio contact. They remained in Estonian airspace for almost twelve minutes before being repelled by Italian Air Force F-35s deployed at Ämari Air Base under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.
Pro-Kremlin outlets regularly push narratives about the aggressive West, as a warmongering, anti-Russian and militaristic power, portraying NATO as a hostile alliance planning to attack Russia, and framing Russia as a victim of Western aggression.
At the emergency UN Security Council meeting on 22 September 2025 on the Russian fighter jet incursion into Estonian airspace, Estonia and its allies strongly condemned Russia’s actions, calling them “reckless” and “provocative.” Estonian officials described the violation as the most serious breach of their borders since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine. Estonia’s foreign minister called the incursion a breach of the UN Charter and stressed that such behaviour by a permanent Security Council member “requires an international response.” Estonia also invoked NATO’s Article 4, calling for consultations among allies.
Sowing doubts about Russia’s actual illicit actions and offering alternative explanations and culprits to deflect Russia’s responsibility is a frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation technique.
Read our disinformation review about the drones in Poland and Romania.
Read also related cases such as: Romania only protested about the Russian drone after receiving its orders from NATO, or Drones in Poland could not be Russian as their reach is up to 700 km , or The drone in Romania is not Russian, it is a Ukrainian provocation, or The UN does not support accusations of Russia's involvement in the drone incident in Poland, or Russian drones over Poland were part of a secret Western operation aimed at thwarting all peace initiatives, or It is physically impossible for Russian drones to have reached Poland, or Accusing Russia of drone attack on Poland is provocation, or Ukraine organised a provocation against Poland reusing Russian drones.