Sweden’s Air Force spotted and intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber that briefly violated Swedish airspace east of the southern tip of Gotland island on the evening of 14 June, marking the first such incursion since Sweden joined NATO.
The incident, which follows similar violations of Finland’s airspace, underscores the heightened tensions between Russia and NATO member states in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine
The Russian aircraft did not respond to warnings from the Swedish side, prompting two Swedish Jas-39 Gripen fighter jets to escort the Su-24 out of the country’s airspace.
“Russia’s behavior is unacceptable and shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity. We monitored the entire course of events and were on site to intervene,” said Commander of the Swedish Air Force Jonas Vikman, as quoted in the press release by the Swedish Armed Forces.
The incident comes just days after Finland, which joined NATO alongside Sweden following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reported similar unauthorized flights by Russian fighter jets near its borders.
The Swedish Armed Forces noted that the last such violations of Swedish airspace by Russian Su-27 and Su-24 aircraft occurred in 2022, prior to the country’s NATO membership, also over Gotland.
Earlier reports indicated a 20-25% increase in NATO fighter jet scrambles to intercept Russian planes approaching Alliance airspace over the Baltic Sea region in the first quarter of 2024.
Headline options:
1. Russian bomber breaches Swedish airspace, highlighting post-NATO accession tensions
2.
3. Russian Su-24 violates Swedish airspace, prompting fighter jet response
4. Sweden condemns Russian jet’s ‘unacceptable’ airspace breach amid NATO tensions
5. Russian aircraft incursion tests Sweden’s air defenses as new NATO member
Lede options:
1. A Russian Su-24 bomber’s brief incursion into Swedish airspace on June 14 marked the first such violation since the country joined NATO, underscoring the ongoing tensions between the military alliance and Moscow.
2. Sweden’s Air Force swiftly responded to a Russian Su-24 bomber that violated the country’s airspace near Gotland island, deploying two Jas-39 Gripen fighter jets to intercept the intruding aircraft.
3. , highlighting the challenges Sweden faces as a new NATO member.
4. Commander of the Swedish Air Force Jonas Vikman denounced Russia’s lack of respect for Sweden’s territorial integrity following the interception of a Russian Su-24 bomber that violated the country’s airspace.
5. The growing frequency of Russian aircraft incursions near NATO member states’ borders, as evidenced by the recent violation of Swedish airspace, underscores the heightened tensions between the military alliance and Moscow amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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