Finland’s Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday, June 10th, that a Russian military aircraft is suspected of violating Finnish airspace. The incident reportedly occurred off the coast of Porvoo, located east of Helsinki. It comes just weeks after Finnish authorities summoned the Russian ambassador over a similar airspace breach.
“An investigation into the alleged violation of airspace was launched immediately,” said Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen, confirming that the Coast Guard will lead the inquiry into the latest event.
Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with its eastern neighbor. Since Finland joined the alliance, Moscow has repeatedly warned of potential repercussions, and bilateral relations have grown increasingly strained.
Last month, Häkkänen emphasized Finland’s heightened alertness in light of evolving regional security dynamics. Finland is ”closely monitoring and assessing Russia’s activities and intentions,” he said.
His comments followed a New York Times report featuring satellite images that appeared to show expanded Russian military infrastructure near the Finnish border, adding further concern to an already volatile situation.
