Finland Calls on Russian Diplomat Amid Allegations of Airspace Incursion

Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that it had summoned the Russian ambassador in Helsinki due to a suspected breach of Finnish airspace the previous week.

Finnish officials indicated on Friday that they believed two Russian military planes had intruded into the nation’s airspace near Porvoo, a city located in southern Finland. The Finnish Border Guard has reportedly launched an investigation into the matter.

The Finnish Foreign Ministry stated in a message to Reuters that the Russian ambassador was informed that Finland regards the suspected territorial infringement with seriousness.

The ambassador acknowledged the message, as per the ministry’s comments, though no further details were provided.

Russia’s embassy in Helsinki has not yet responded to a request for a statement.

The Baltic Sea area has been on heightened alert following a series of incidents involving underwater cables and gas pipeline disruptions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In response to these occurrences, NATO has increased its military presence in the region, deploying frigates, aircraft, and naval drones.