Russian SU-24 bomber briefly violates Swedish airspace

Sweden's military said on Saturday (Jun 15) that a Russian SU-24 bomber briefly violated Swedish airspace on Friday near the strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland, which is located less than 350 kilometres (217 miles) from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

The incident forced Sweden to force two JAS-39 fighter jets to intercept the aircraft. The incident occurred three months after Sweden became a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), dropping two centuries of military non-alliance. 

"On Friday afternoon, a Russian SU-24 jet fighter violated Swedish airspace east of Gotland's southern tip. The Swedish air combat command warned the Russian aircraft with a verbal call," the Swedish armed forces said. 

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"When this was not heeded and the aircraft did not deviate from its route, it was dismissed from Swedish airspace by two JAS-39 Gripens," it said, further adding that the military said that the violation was "brief". 

Jonas Wikman, the head of Sweden's air force, said that the Russian actions are not "acceptable and demonstrate" a lack of respect for Sweden's territorial integrity. 

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While the Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom called the airspace violation "unacceptable". He said officials from the Russian Embassy in Stockholm would be summoned to his ministry over the incident. 

"We are in close contact with allies and partners about the events in our immediate area," Billstrom told the news agency Reuters in an email.

Russia hasn't responded to the incident yet. 

The Swedish military said similar violations by Russian aircraft last occurred in 2022 when two SU-27 and two SU-24 planes violated its airspace near Gotland. 

(With inputs from agencies)