The drones sent into Poland were sent by the route an air attack against Poland would follow. They were mostly decoy drones, and the exercise was calculated to map Polish air defense radar systems, test their ranges, and test the reaction time of the Polish Air Force. Friday's expedition had the same objectives. The MiGs were equipped to be non-threatening so as not to escalate the interception into a dogfight.

Plus, the Russians sent in one of their most radar-visible aircraft. //

Again, they were mapping air defense radar coverage of the Gulf of Finland and the eastern Baltic and testing NATO reaction and reaction times.

This was also a political move to further isolate Europe, as President Trump sends repeated signals that the Europeans had better learn to fend for themselves.

Not only were the Russians out to rattle cages in Tallinn, they were sending a message to the Finns. //

A new round of sanctions seems sure to be imposed on Russia in the very near future; EU hammers Putin and charms Trump by targeting China, India in new Russia sanctions.

There is also the possibility that Russian aircraft in NATO airspace may be met with deadly force.

In 2015, Turkey reacted to a Russian violation of its airspace by shooting down a Russian strike fighter.