Sweden’s armed forces reported on Wednesday, October 15, that they were monitoring a Russian submarine which entered the Baltic Sea the previous day. The military described the operation as “routine” and said it was conducted in close collaboration with allied forces.
According to the statement, the submarine entered the Baltic via the Great Belt, a Danish strait. Swedish jet fighters and warships met the vessel in the Kattegatt strait, located between Denmark and Sweden, and have been following it since. The armed forces added that they maintain a
good overview of our immediate vicinity.
Tensions in the Baltic region have increased since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Sweden—which ended two centuries of military non-alignment to join NATO in 2024—remains on alert for potential threats.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in January that the country is “not at war, but there is not peace either.” He argued that the entire Baltic region faces “hybrid attacks,” including disinformation campaigns and incidents involving damaged underwater cables.
“The Russian threat is very likely long-term. As our defence must be,” Kristersson added, underlining Sweden’s commitment to monitoring and securing its territorial waters.
