A Russian reconnaissance plane entered international airspace over the Baltic Sea without contacting air traffic control. Interceptors from the German and Swedish air forces and NATO air traffic control in the Baltic states took off on Friday night and escorted a Russian IL-20M plane, the Luftwaffe said on Saturday.
Russian plane flying over the Baltic Sea
In mid-June, a Russian SU-24 bomber flew over the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, which is about 350 kilometers from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.. Two Swedish fighter jets were sent to remove the Russian plane from the airspace, the daily Welt reported.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022 prompted Finland and Sweden to join NATO in 2023 and 2024. With the exception of Russia, all Baltic Sea countries have since become members of the Western military alliance..
