Russian reconnaissance plane invades Swedish airspace
Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist
Source: REUTERS
A Russian military AN-30 has violated Swedish airspace. The Swedish Ministry of Defense reacted with outrage. That is “completely unacceptable” in the current situation. Russia had previously warned Sweden of the “consequences” of joining NATO.
EA Russian reconnaissance plane has illegally entered Swedish airspace. The AN-30 propeller aircraft temporarily violated Swedish airspace on Friday evening, explained the Swedish Army General Staff on Saturday.
On Friday, the plane was initially east of the Danish Baltic Sea island of Bornholm and then flew towards Swedish territory. South of Blekinge, it violated Swedish airspace for a short time before leaving the area again.
Swedish fighter jets followed the incident and photographed the plane. At the beginning of March, four Russian fighter jets briefly violated the airspace over Sweden.
The Ministry of Defense in Stockholm condemned the incident as “completely unacceptable”. In view of the “general security situation” in particular, the airspace violation was “very inappropriate”. “Sweden’s sovereignty must always be respected,” Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said. Sweden will protest through diplomatic channels.
Airspace violations have recently also occurred over direct NATO territory. Like the alliance on Friday announced that in the previous four days there were several situations in which Russian aircraft invaded NATO airspace over the Baltic and Black Seas. “Allied warplanes were on their way to pursue and intercept the Russian planes.”
Russia warned Sweden of the consequences
The incident in Sweden came at a time when the country, like Finland, is discussing joining NATO in the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to Swedish media reports, both countries could submit their application for NATO membership as early as mid-May. The heads of state and government of the 30 NATO countries could then theoretically discuss this at their summit in Madrid at the end of June.
Russia had repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden about the “consequences” of joining NATO. In both countries, public approval of this had increased significantly with the Ukraine war. NATO has already signaled a quick admission.
Against the background of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, NATO is planning major military exercises across Europe in the coming weeks. The maneuvers, which will involve aircraft, helicopters, tanks, artillery and armored assault vehicles, are scheduled to take place in Finland, Poland, North Macedonia and along the Estonia-Latvia border, the western military alliance said.
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