A Russian reconnaissance plane flew into international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. Interceptors from the German and Swedish air forces and air traffic control NATO in the Baltic countries took off on Friday evening and escorted a Russian IL-20M aircraft, the Luftwaffe reported on Saturday.
Russian plane over Gotland
In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, which lies about 350 kilometers from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Two Swedish fighter jets were sent to remove the Russian plane from airspace, the Welt daily portal recalled.
Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022 led to the accession Finland and Sweden to NATO in 2023 and 2024. With the exception of Russia all the Baltic Sea countries have since become members of the Western military alliance.
Main image source: Twitter/@Team_Luftwaffe