Sweden Scrambles Warship and Jets to Track “Limping” Russian Submarine in Baltic Sea

Sweden’s Armed Forces confirmed that they are monitoring a Russian submarine that entered the Baltic Sea on October 14, describing the operation as routine and conducted in coordination with allied forces.

According to Agence France-Presse on October 15, the submarine passed through the Great Belt—a Danish strait—before being met by Swedish fighter jets and naval vessels in the Kattegat area between Denmark and Sweden.

The Swedish military stated that the vessel “is now being followed,” emphasizing that the country maintains “a good overview of our immediate vicinity.”

In a post on X, the Swedish Navy added that “a Russian submarine entered the Baltic Sea via the Great Belt yesterday. Swedish aircraft and warships met the submarine in the Kattegat and are following it on its way. A routine operation carried out in close cooperation with our allies.”

As Radio Sweden reported, the submarine is believed to be the same vessel that surfaced near the French coast earlier this week—reportedly the Novorossiysk—after suffering technical problems while transiting the English Channel. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte previously described the vessel as “limping home” to Russia.

Sweden, which joined NATO in 2024, has since expanded cooperation with the alliance’s regional members to monitor maritime and aerial movements in the Baltic Sea.

Earlier, a Russian submarine—believed to be the Novorossiysk (B-261)—surfaced near the French coast off Brittany, prompting a French Navy frigate to shadow the vessel. According to UK Defence Journal, the incident was part of NATO’s ongoing maritime surveillance.

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