The border guard service of Finland announced on Friday that a suspected airspace violation by Russia earlier in the week actually involved four warplanes, not just one as initially reported. This revelation came as the investigation progressed, leading to suspicion of territorial infringement by three additional planes alongside the originally identified one.
Finnish authorities disclosed that the violation was likely carried out by a four-plane division, consisting of two bomber and two fighter-class aircraft, which penetrated 2.5 kilometers into Finland’s borders. The incident is believed to have taken place near the city of Loviisa, located less than 90 kilometers east of Helsinki, with the aircraft remaining in Finnish airspace for approximately two minutes.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen emphasized the seriousness of the suspected territorial violation, stating that investigations have been initiated. The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions between Finland and Russia, who share a lengthy border, following Finland’s recent accession to NATO.
Notably, in August 2022, Finland reported two Russian fighter jets entering its airspace over the Gulf of Finland. Moreover, Finland’s decision to close its eastern border in response to a significant influx of undocumented migrants, allegedly orchestrated by Russia, has further strained relations between the two countries. Moscow has denied any involvement in the surge of asylum seekers.
As diplomatic strains persist, it is evident that the airspace violation incident underscores the ongoing challenges in the Finland-Russia relationship. The situation remains under scrutiny as investigations into the incident continue.
