Finland scrambled jets after it suspected two Russian aircraft of entering the country's airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission, the Nordic state's defense ministry said Wednesday.
Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia and maintains generally cordial relations with its vast eastern neighbor, but the Ukraine crisis has seen many politicians in the EU member state toughen their tone towards Moscow.
"The airforce undertook operative identification flights," a Finnish defense ministry spokesman said, and added that the border guard was examining data on the possible violations.
The incidents happened within two hours of each other over the Gulf of Finland on Tuesday afternoon.
The ministry said the planes were state aircraft, a term which refers to aircraft used in military, customs and police services. It gave no further detail.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
