A Romanian F-16 fighter jet operating as part of NATO's air policing mission in the Baltic states shot down what authorities believe was a Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia on Tuesday, according to Estonian officials.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said the decision was made based on the drone's trajectory. "Given the trajectory of the drone, we decided that we need to take it down," Pevkur told reporters. He indicated the aircraft was "most probably" a Ukrainian drone "meant to hit some Russian targets."

The incident represents the latest in a series of cases where Ukrainian drones targeting Russia have strayed into or crashed in NATO territory. These occurrences have increased as Ukraine has intensified its drone campaign against Russian energy facilities and weapons manufacturing sites.

On Sunday, Russian authorities reported that one of the largest Ukrainian drone strikes on their territory killed at least four people, including three near Moscow, and wounded twelve others. Ukraine's expanding drone capabilities have enabled it to penetrate Russian air defenses more effectively.

Pevkur said Estonia has repeatedly advised Ukraine to exercise greater caution with flight paths. "We've said to the Ukrainians all the time that if you're attacking Russian positions or Russian targets, then these trajectories have to be as far from the NATO territory as possible," he stated.