The Armed Forces' image of the Russian plane that allegedly violated Swedish airspace. Photo: The Swedish Armed Forces
A Russian plane violated Swedish airspace on Friday. Swedish defense called the plane but got no answer.
Two Jas planes went up to intercept the Russian plane.
- They were five kilometers into our territory in barely two minutes, says Air Force Chief Jonas Wikman.
During Friday afternoon, a Russian SU-24 fighter jet entered Swedish airspace east of the southern tip of Gotland.
The Swedish air combat command then warned the Russian aircraft through a verbal call. When the Russian plane did not depart, two JAS-39 Gripens had to go up and intercept it.
- This behavior is unacceptable regardless of whether it is intentional or not. It shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity. They were five kilometers into our territory in barely two minutes, says Air Force Chief Jonas Wikman.
The Foreign Ministry summons the Russian ambassador
The Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson was informed about the incident yesterday.
"The Russian behavior is unacceptable and unprofessional. It is good that the Swedish Armed Forces' incident response intervened and rejected the Russian fighter jet," he says in a written comment to Aftonbladet.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also takes the incident seriously.
"The Russian behavior is unacceptable. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will call the Russian Embassy to mark the incident. We are in close contact with allies and partners about events in the immediate area," says Foreign Minister Tobias Billström in a comment to Aftonbladet.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson was informed yesterday. Photo: Lars Schröder/TT
Could be a signal to us
This is the first violation of Swedish airspace since 2022. Then four Russian military planes made their way over Gotland. Former lieutenant colonel Jörgen Elfving does not rule out that yesterday's violation was intentional.
- It could be a signal to us that Russia can act. With the background of the Baltic Sea becoming a NATO sea after Sweden and Finland's entry, one might want to mark, he says and continues:
- It can also be intelligence gathering to see what Swedish preparedness looks like.
Jörgen Elfving. Photo: Martin Höglund/TT
May be linked to infringement in Finland
Earlier this week, four Russian military planes also violated Finnish airspace, according to Finland's border guard.
Those planes must have been 2.5 kilometers into the Finnish side at most. According to Elfving, there may be a connection between the two events.
- Superficially, you can say that it might not be a coincidence, he says.
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