The Russian Defense Ministry on Saturday denied Estonia's accusation that Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission.
In a statement, the ministry said three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets completed a flight from Karelia in northwest Russia to an airport in the Kaliningrad region earlier Saturday.
Monitoring equipment showed that the flight strictly adhered to international aviation rules and did not breach the borders of any other country, according to the statement.
It further stated that the flight path passed over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, remaining over three kilometers away from the Vaindloo Island in Estonia, and did not enter Estonian airspace.
On Friday, Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires to protest what it said was an "airspace violation" by three Russian fighter jets.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the incursion took place over the Gulf of Finland, where three Russian Federation MIG-31 fighter aircraft entered Estonian airspace without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes.
The Estonian defense forces reported that Italian Air Force F-35 fighter jets, stationed at Amari airbase in Estonia, responded to the incident.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the Estonian government would seek NATO consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty in response to what she called Russia's provocations. Article 4 allows any NATO member to call for discussions when it perceives a threat to its territorial integrity or security.
Estonia and Russia are neighboring countries along the coast of the Gulf of Finland, while Kaliningrad is an enclave of Russia between Lithuania and Poland 663 kilometers west of the bulk of Russia.
Russia denies airspace violation accusation by Estonia
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
