📷 Image Credits: Bulgarian Military
On June 10, the Finnish Ministry of Defense reported a potential breach of Finnish airspace by a Russian military aircraft near Loviisa, a town just under 100km from Helsinki. The incident involved a group of four aircraft, including two bombers and two fighters, with the aircraft reportedly traveling 1.55 miles into Finnish territory before turning back. This marks the first recorded breach of Finnish airspace by a Russian military aircraft since Finland joined NATO in April 2024. The Finnish Defense Ministry expressed seriousness towards the suspected breach and immediately launched an investigation into the matter. This incident follows a similar violation in August 2022, when two Russian fighter jets crossed into Finnish airspace over the Gulf of Finland. As part of its response to the breach, Finland deployed four F/A-18 Hornets in Romania under NATO, although the Finnish Air Force did not initially react to the incident. The investigation into the breach is ongoing, with further details expected to be released upon its completion. Finland, a country with a history of preparing for potential conflict with Russia, has taken strategic measures to bolster its defense, including joining NATO and upgrading its fighter jet fleet to advanced F-35 Lightning IIs. The recent breach underscores the importance of vigilance and readiness in the face of security threats in the region.
