Finland’s Defence Ministry announced Thursday evening that a Russian aircraft is suspected of having violated the country’s airspace earlier in the day.
“Every suspected violation of air space is taken seriously,” Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen stated in a ministry release. “An investigation is underway.”
The incident follows a pattern of similar confrontations. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, has accused Russian military aircraft of entering its airspace on two separate occasions in May and June, prompting the summoning of the Russian chargé d’affaires.
Helsinki has maintained a heightened state of alert since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict spurred Finland to abandon decades of military non-alignment, leading to its accession to NATO in April 2023.
This is a developing story.
Also Read
- U.S. Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Cuban State Mining and Construction Entities
- Trump escalates criticism of allies as Iran war victory remains out of reach
- WHO Allocates 70,000 Ervebo Vaccine Doses to DRC Amid Record Ebola Outbreak
- Como Mayor Introduces E-Bike Riding Ban After Personal Collision Incident