Sweden Scrambles Fighter Jets As Military Says Russian SU-24 Bomber Violated Airspace Near Gotland

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, just three months after Sweden's accession to full NATO membership, abandoning its longstanding policy of military non-alignment.

A Russian SU-24 bomber breached Swedish airspace close to the strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland, prompting Sweden's military to scramble two JAS-39 fighter jets to intercept and escort the intruding aircraft out of its territory, the country's earned forces confirmed on Saturday.

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, just three months after Sweden acceded to full NATO membership, abandoning its longstanding policy of military non-alignment.

According to a statement from the Swedish armed forces, "On Friday afternoon, a Russian SU-24 jet violated Swedish airspace east of Gotland's southern tip. The Swedish air combat command warned the Russian aircraft with a verbal call". 

"When this warning was disregarded and the aircraft persisted in its course, it was escorted out of Swedish airspace by two JAS-39 Gripens," the statement said. 

Describing the violation as "brief", Swedish air force chief, Jonas Wikamn, stated, "The Russian actions are not acceptable". "It demonstrates a lack of respect for our territorial integrity," he stated, according to Reuters. 

Notably, the development comes days after, the Swedish government announced to contribute aircraft to NATO Air Policing. The Swedish Armed Forces will thus have leeway to provide aircraft soon to carry out aerial surveillance under NATO’s command, the Swedish government had said in a statement earlier this week.  

Gotland, situated less than 350 kilometers from Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, holds strategic importance in Swedish military doctrine, influencing control over air and naval movements in the Baltic Sea. 

After years of reduced military expenditure that led to the closure of its garrison in 2004, Sweden reinstated its military presence on Gotland in 2018. The move was driven by concerns over Russia's actions, especially after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which ultimately spurred Sweden's decision to join NATO earlier this year. 

It is to be noted that this incident marks the second time in 2022 that Russian military aircraft have violated Swedish airspace over Gotland. The recent developments have added to the ongoing tensions in the region. For the latest updates from all across the world, stay tuned with ABP Live.