Swedish officials on Wednesday accused four Russian fighters of invading airspace over the Baltic Sea.
The jets, identified as two SU-27s and two SU-24 fighters, flew over Swedish territory near Gotland. according to Swedish army. The incident happened early on Wednesday.
“Given the current situation, we take this case very seriously. Russia’s actions are irresponsible, not expert,” said Karl Johann Edstrom, chief of the Swedish Air Force, in a statement. ..
According to the statement, Swedish troops scrambled jets that took pictures of Russian planes.
“This shows that we are ready,” Edstrom said. “We were on site to conserve territorial integrity and secure the Swedish border. We are in full control of the situation.”
Russia Use both SU-24 When SU-27 airplane To achieve the superiority of air superiority fighters over Ukraine.
No other details about the incident were available. Russia has not publicly commented on alleged violations of airspace on Swedish territory.
“Russia’s violation of Swedish airspace is, of course, completely unacceptable,” said Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist. Said TT News Outlet. “It will lead to a firm diplomatic reaction from Sweden. Sweden’s sovereignty and territory must always be respected.”
A few days ago, Swedish authorities confirmed that they would send military aid to Ukraine, including 5,000 anti-tank weapons. According to analysts, Sweden has sent weapons to the country in the war since 1939, when Sweden sent weapons to Finland after the Soviet Union invaded during the Winter War.
Finland also reportedly said it would send military rifles and ammunition to Ukrainian troops.
The members of the European Union, Sweden and Finland, are close partners of NATO but do not belong to NATO. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in late February, several Swedish politicians have openly meditated on joining security forces.
“Anything is possible at this point, and the signal from NATO countries is that the application for accession can be processed in a very short period of time,” said Zebulon Carlander, a defense analyst at the Swedish social defense organization. Said This week’s AFP news agency.
Rihards Kols, who is in charge of the Latvian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said: Said Financial Times: “Their membership only improves the security of the area and the ability to thwart invaders. Every time I meet a Finnish and Swedish colleague, I always ask:” When do you go to NATO? Are you sure that you want to participate?”
But Russia’s Foreign Ministry said last week that if Sweden and Finland joined NATO, they could face “serious military and political implications.”
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Jack Phillips is the latest news reporter for The Epoch Times, based in New York.