Russian invasion • The world's response

Sweden donates mobile air traffic control tower to Ukraine

Sweden is donating a mobile air traffic control tower to Ukraine, writes TT. Many of Ukraine's air traffic control towers have been bombed to pieces in Russian attacks and the system is in demand, says Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD).

- An air traffic control tower normally takes two years to build. With mobile air traffic control towers, it can be built in 24 hours instead, he says.

The tower consists of two movable containers. One container contains a camera tower that can be folded out and raised to a height of 28 meters. In the other container there is a protected control center where air traffic controllers direct traffic with cameras, sensors and communication systems.

Jonson: More aggressive Russian actions in the Baltic Sea

At the same time as Swedish authorities have stepped up their efforts against the Russian shadow fleet, Russia has begun to act in new ways. This is what Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) tells SVT Nyheter.

- We have noted more aggressive behavior from the Russian Baltic Fleet, he says.

At the same time, the Swedish efforts have meant that Russian shadow ships are now increasingly sailing around Bornholm to avoid Swedish waters. The chairman of the Defense Committee, Peter Hultqvist (S), points out that it is important that Europe and NATO adapt.

- We must take new steps when it comes to how to limit and stop this activity in different ways, he says.

Previously Swedish-owned ships end up in the Russian shadow fleet

Ten tankers previously owned by Swedish shipping companies have ended up in the Russian shadow fleet since the invasion of Ukraine, according to a review by SVT Nyheter. One of them has transported Russian oil for over five billion kronor since 2022.

Several of the ships were sold by the shipping company Concordia Maritime, which is part of the Stena sphere. According to Erik Hånell, CEO of Stena Bulk, background checks are carried out before all ship transactions.

– But we have no control over what happens in the next step. We run a commercial business and must be able to buy and sell ships according to the requirements set, Hånell tells SVT Nyheter.