The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador in connection with the intrusion of Russian military aircraft into Finnish airspace
During a difficult period for relations between Finland and the Russian Federation, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs initiated a diplomatic step by calling in the Russian ambassador to clarify the circumstances of the incident that occurred on May 23. According to official sources, including the Finnish public broadcaster Yle, as reported by the European Pravda news agency, this action signals serious concern regarding the violation of the country’s airspace by Russian military aircraft. Based on the collected information, two Russian military planes were detected in the skies near the town of Pori, in the south of Finland, and are suspected of illegally breaching Finnish air defenses. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen did not hide the seriousness of the situation, commenting briefly but significantly. He stated that the suspicion of violating the country’s territorial integrity is being taken very seriously, and an official request for clarification and explanations regarding the incident will be sent to Moscow. An investigation into this event has already been launched by the Finnish Gulf Coast Guard, which is conducting initial investigative measures and collecting evidence to address the situation and identify those responsible. Additionally, Häkkänen emphasized that Russian military activity in the Baltic Sea has increased significantly in recent times, further raising regional tensions. This situation is compounded by a recent incident in which Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber over the Baltic Sea last week, confirming a trend of escalating Russian military activity in this part of Europe. This incident has become yet another sign of rising tensions between Moscow and the Baltic states and has generated widespread international concern about security and stability in the region. Finland, which recently officially joined NATO, clearly demonstrates its stance on defending its borders and preparing for any development scenarios. It is expected that the incident will be discussed at the highest political levels in the country and will prompt increased international diplomacy and cooperation in ensuring security in the Baltic region.