Russian spy plane occupies Swedish airspace
Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultquist
What: REUTERS
The Russian military has encroached on AN-30 Swedish airspace. The Swedish Ministry of Defense has strongly condemned this. This is completely unacceptable in the current situation. Russia had earlier warned Sweden of the consequences of joining NATO.
EA Russian spy plane has entered Swedish airspace illegally. The AN-30 propeller plane made a temporary intrusion into Swedish airspace on Friday evening. Explained Saturday Swedish Army Civil Servants.
On Friday, the plane was initially heading east of the Danish Baltic Sea island of Bournemouth and then flew over Swedish territory. South of Plekking, it crossed Swedish airspace shortly before leaving the area again.
Swedish fighter jets photographed the plane following the incident. In early March, four Russian warplanes briefly flew over Sweden.
The Defense Ministry in Stockholm has condemned the incident as “completely unacceptable”. Air breach is “highly inappropriate”, especially considering the “public safety situation”. “Sweden’s sovereignty must always be respected,” said Defense Minister Peter Hulkwist, of SVT television. Sweden will protest in diplomatic channels.
There have also been recent air violations in direct NATO territory. Like the alliance On Friday In the previous four days it was announced that there were several situations where Russian planes occupied NATO airspace over the Baltic and Black Seas. “Allied warplanes were pursuing Russian planes and intercepting them.”
Russia warns Sweden of repercussions
The incident in Sweden comes as countries such as Finland are considering joining NATO in the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to Swedish media reports, both countries may submit their application for NATO membership in mid-May. The heads of state and heads of state of the 30 NATO countries will be able to discuss this in principle at a summit in Madrid at the end of June.
Russia has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden about the consequences of joining NATO. In both countries, public recognition for the war in Ukraine has increased significantly. NATO has already signaled for rapid accession.
In the wake of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, NATO plans to hold major military exercises across Europe in the coming weeks. The Western military says the maneuvers, which include aircraft, helicopters, tanks, artillery and armored vehicles, will take place on the Finnish, Polish, northern Macedonia and Estonia-Latvia borders.
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