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Two Russian Jets Suspected of Violating Finnish Airspace Near Helsinki. Here’s What We Know
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
The Finnish Ministry of Defense suspects two Russian military aircraft of violating the country’s airspace on May 23 in what would be the second such incursion this year, the Ministry reported on May 24.
The incident reportedly occurred near the Gulf of Finland, close to the city of Porvoo, just east of Helsinki.
The Ministry confirmed that an investigation is underway.
“We take the suspected violation of our territory seriously and are conducting a thorough investigation,” said Antti Häkkänen, Finland’s Minister of Defense.
The Finnish military has not yet released additional details about the aircraft involved or how long they may have been in Finnish airspace.
The suspected incursion comes amid a sharp increase in Russian aerial activity along Finland’s borders — a trend that has accelerated since the country formally joined NATO in 2023.
Earlier this year the Finnish Ministry of Defense also reported a suspected airspace breach involving a Russian government aircraft near the Hanko Peninsula. That aircraft was believed to have remained in Finnish airspace for several minutes.
Finland’s air defenses remain on alert and are equipped with two squadrons of American-made F/A-18C Hornet fighter jets, which are used for airspace patrols and intercept missions.
These jets not only secure Finland’s borders but also participate in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing operations, escorting and intercepting Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
Earlier, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber conducting unsafe maneuvers in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
