TALLINN, October 22 (RIA Novosti) — The Russian Ministry of Defense has denied the claim by the Estonian military that a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft breached Estonian airspace, the Ministry's Media Affairs and Information Department said on Wednesday.
"The Russian military aircraft did not breach Estonian airspace. On October 21, 2014 a Russian military aircraft that had been conducting a planned training flight from Khrabrovo military base in Kaliningrad flew over neutral waters in the Baltic Sea," said the statement, adding that the flight was conducted in strict accordance with international regulations.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Estonian Joint Chief of Staff said that a Russian Il-20 aircraft had entered the countries' airspace on Tuesday, not far from the Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands, advanced by almost 500 meters (0.3 miles) and stayed there for about one minute. The alleged breach was registered from Amari airbase. According to the Estonian military, the aircraft was avoiding radio contact with the local air navigation service.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry said that it has sent a letter of protest to Russia's Ambassador in Tallinn Yury Merzlyakov.
