‘Totally unacceptable’: Swedes accuse Russian spy plane of violating airspace

The plane was flying east of Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic, before it headed towards Swedish territory.


A Russian reconnaissance plane briefly violated Sweden’s airspace on Friday, Swedish defence officials said on Saturday, as the Scandinavian country ponders a bid for NATO membership after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“A Russian AN-30 propeller plane violated Swedish airspace on Friday evening,” the Swedish defence ministry said in a statement, adding that its teams had followed the incident and photographed it.

The ministry said the plane was flying east of Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic, before it headed towards Swedish territory.

“It is totally unacceptable to violate Swedish airspace,” public television SVT quoted Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist as saying.

“This action is unprofessional and given the general security situation very inappropriate. Swedish sovereignty must always be respected.”

This video is no longer available.

Read more on these topics

Russia Sweden Ukraine

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.