Finland and Sweden on Friday (Sep 25) said that they had scrambled fighter ​jets to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The operation marked the first such joint mission by the two Nordic nations. The Finnish Air Force said the two countries deployed Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft on Thursday (Sep 24) after Russian military planes were detected.The Russian detachment included a Tu-134 transport aircraft, along with MiG-31 and Su-30 fighter jets, according to the Finnish military. Finnish and Swedish aircraft tracked and identified the Russian group before completing the operation. The mission was described by Finland as the first joint operational “identification mission” conducted by the two air forces.<h2>Baltic Sea tensions remain high</h2>The operation comes as security concerns have intensified across the Baltic Sea region following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The region has witnessed incidents involving airspace violations, drone sightings and gas pipeline outages, prompting increased vigilance among NATO members.Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the joint operation demonstrated the level of coordination developed between the two countries.“It is a concrete expression of the readiness and trust we have built together – and an expression of the strength in the Nordic, Nordic-Baltic, and broader NATO cooperation in our part of the world,” Kristersson wrote on X.He added: “The Baltic Sea has never been as vulnerable as it is now – but it has also never been better protected than it is right now.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-testing-nato-again-mi-8-helicopter-breaches-polish-airspace-briefly-1790181515755">Russia testing NATO again? Mi-8 helicopter breaches Polish airspace briefly&nbsp;</a><h2>Russian Mi-8 helicopter breaches Polish airspace</h2>The incident happened a day after Poland said that a Russian military helicopter briefly violated its airspace on Wednesday (Sep 23). It added that in response, NATO fighter jets were scrambled, while ground forces remained on alert. Polish Army Operational Command said that the Mi-8 aircraft entered Polish airspace from the Russian ​exclave of Kaliningrad and stayed for 42 seconds. It penetrated the country’s airspace to a depth of about 300 metres (328 yards). The Mi-8 helicopter crossed into Polish airspace north of the town of Braniewo at around 11:08 am local time. Polish radar systems tracked its movement throughout the incident.

Finland and Sweden scrambled fighter jets to identify Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland in their first joint operation, amid rising tensions and security concerns in the Baltic Sea.

Finland and Sweden on Friday (Sep 25) said that they had scrambled fighter jets to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The operation marked the first such joint mission by the two Nordic nations. The Finnish Air Force said the two countries deployed Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft on Thursday (Sep 24) after Russian military planes were detected. The Russian detachment included a Tu-134 transport aircraft, along with MiG-31 and Su-30 fighter jets, according to the Finnish military. Finnish and Swedish aircraft tracked and identified the Russian group before completing the operation. The mission was described by Finland as the first joint operational “identification mission” conducted by the two air forces. Baltic Sea tensions remain high The operation comes as security concerns have intensified across the Baltic Sea region following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The region has witnessed incidents involving airspace violations, drone sightings and gas pipeline outages, prompting increased vigilance among NATO members. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the joint operation demonstrated the level of coordination developed between the two countries. “It is a concrete expression of the readiness and trust we have built together – and an expression of the strength in the Nordic, Nordic-Baltic, and broader NATO cooperation in our part of the world,” Kristersson wrote on X. He added: “The Baltic Sea has never been as vulnerable as it is now – but it has also never been better protected than it is right now.” Also read | Russia testing NATO again? Mi-8 helicopter breaches Polish airspace briefly Russian Mi-8 helicopter breaches Polish airspace The incident happened a day after Poland said that a Russian military helicopter briefly violated its airspace on Wednesday (Sep 23). It added that in response, NATO fighter jets were scrambled, while ground forces remained on alert. Polish Army Operational Command said that the Mi-8 aircraft entered Polish airspace from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and stayed for 42 seconds. It penetrated the country’s airspace to a depth of about 300 metres (328 yards). The Mi-8 helicopter crossed into Polish airspace north of the town of Braniewo at around 11:08 am local time. Polish radar systems tracked its movement throughout the incident.

Finland and Sweden scrambled fighter jets to identify Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland in their first joint operation, amid rising tensions and security concerns in the Baltic Sea.

Russian warplanes trigger first Finland-Sweden joint operation in Baltic – What happened?

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that Russia could carry out drone or missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, with Moscow potentially portraying the attacks as "accidents" to test NATO’s willingness to respond.Speaking in the Polish parliament on Thursday (Sep 17), Tusk said intelligence assessments pointing to such a scenario were “very consistent and convincing”. Tusk alleged that Britain, a key ally of Ukraine, could be one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's intended targets.He urged Poland to prepare for a range of possibilities as Russia continues its war in Ukraine. “There is a real risk that drones or other types of missiles could penetrate the territory of one or more countries on the eastern flank and even cause damage, while the official explanation will be that there was an accident,” Tusk said.Tusk argued that such incidents could be designed by an increasingly desperate Putin as a way to weaken support for Ukraine and create divisions within NATO over whether an attack had taken place deliberately.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-breaks-silence-on-us-russia-sanctions-bill-100-tariff-threat-committed-to-energy-security-for-1-4-billion-1789619754941">India breaks silence on US Russia sanctions bill, 100% tariff threat: ‘Committed to energy security’ for 1.4 billion</a><h2>Tusk warns of a test for NATO</h2>According to Tusk, Russia could use repeated incidents to undermine confidence in NATO’s collective defence commitments and make member states reluctant to invoke the alliance’s provisions.He warned that the coming autumn and winter could be a particularly critical phase of the war, with Russia expected to intensify attacks on Ukraine while testing the resolve of its Western supporters."We know he is plotting something bad. However, for us the most important task is to prepare for various scenarios," said Tusk, adding, "We will certainly not naively accept such messages that Russia has goodwill and will start behaving properly. There is no indication of this."The warning came after a fresh Russian aerial assault on western Ukraine near Poland’s border. Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed airports in response to the attack, although Warsaw said there was no confirmed breach of its airspace.The use of faster, jet-powered drones has added to concerns among Ukraine’s allies because they leave air-defence systems less time to detect and engage incoming weapons. These have also led to calls for Britain and other allies to shoot down the jets before they could reach NATO airspace.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-russia-sanctions-bill-trump-100-percent-tariff-india-china-1789610901670">Trump gets new power to hit India, China with up to 100% tariffs as US Senate clears Russia sanctions bill</a>"There is a real risk that drones or other types of missiles could penetrate the territory of one or more countries on the eastern flank and even cause damage, while the official explanation will be that there was an accident," warned the Polish PM.<h2>Poland steps up air patrols</h2>Poland has already increased military activity along its eastern frontier. Its air force has been conducting more F-16 patrols and helicopter operations, while Warsaw has pre-authorised its forces to shoot down any Russian aircraft that enter Polish airspace.Tusk’s comments follow a series of incidents involving Russian drones and other military activity close to NATO territory. Earlier this month, Poland reported concerns over possible Russian activity near border infrastructure, while similar incidents have been reported around other Ukrainian border areas.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has alleged that intelligence assessments point to a possible Russian strategy involving drones or missiles hitting countries that support Ukraine. These attacks, he said, would be portrayed by Moscow as an “accident” to test NATO’s response.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that Russia could carry out drone or missile strikes against countries supporting Ukraine, with Moscow potentially portraying the attacks as "accidents" to test NATO’s willingness to respond. Speaking in the Polish parliament on Thursday (Sep 17), Tusk said intelligence assessments pointing to such a scenario were “very consistent and convincing”. Tusk alleged that Britain, a key ally of Ukraine, could be one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's intended targets. He urged Poland to prepare for a range of possibilities as Russia continues its war in Ukraine. “There is a real risk that drones or other types of missiles could penetrate the territory of one or more countries on the eastern flank and even cause damage, while the official explanation will be that there was an accident,” Tusk said. Tusk argued that such incidents could be designed by an increasingly desperate Putin as a way to weaken support for Ukraine and create divisions within NATO over whether an attack had taken place deliberately. Also read | India breaks silence on US Russia sanctions bill, 100% tariff threat: ‘Committed to energy security’ for 1.4 billion Tusk warns of a test for NATO According to Tusk, Russia could use repeated incidents to undermine confidence in NATO’s collective defence commitments and make member states reluctant to invoke the alliance’s provisions. He warned that the coming autumn and winter could be a particularly critical phase of the war, with Russia expected to intensify attacks on Ukraine while testing the resolve of its Western supporters. "We know he is plotting something bad. However, for us the most important task is to prepare for various scenarios," said Tusk, adding, "We will certainly not naively accept such messages that Russia has goodwill and will start behaving properly. There is no indication of this." The warning came after a fresh Russian aerial assault on western Ukraine near Poland’s border. Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed airports in response to the attack, although Warsaw said there was no confirmed breach of its airspace. The use of faster, jet-powered drones has added to concerns among Ukraine’s allies because they leave air-defence systems less time to detect and engage incoming weapons. These have also led to calls for Britain and other allies to shoot down the jets before they could reach NATO airspace. Also read | Trump gets new power to hit India, China with up to 100% tariffs as US Senate clears Russia sanctions bill "There is a real risk that drones or other types of missiles could penetrate the territory of one or more countries on the eastern flank and even cause damage, while the official explanation will be that there was an accident," warned the Polish PM. Poland steps up air patrols Poland has already increased military activity along its eastern frontier. Its air force has been conducting more F-16 patrols and helicopter operations, while Warsaw has pre-authorised its forces to shoot down any Russian aircraft that enter Polish airspace. Tusk’s comments follow a series of incidents involving Russian drones and other military activity close to NATO territory. Earlier this month, Poland reported concerns over possible Russian activity near border infrastructure, while similar incidents have been reported around other Ukrainian border areas.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has alleged that intelligence assessments point to a possible Russian strategy involving drones or missiles hitting countries that support Ukraine. These attacks, he said, would be portrayed by Moscow as an “accident” to test NATO’s response.

Putin 'is plotting something bad': Russia may launch 'accidental' strikes on NATO countries supporting Ukraine, Poland PM warns

The development of the 9M729 is thought to have begun in the mid-2000s, with flight testing underway by 2008 and the missile entering service about a decade later. 

The development of the 9M729 is thought to have begun in the mid-2000s, with flight testing underway by 2008 and the missile entering service about a decade later.&nbsp;

What is the 9M729 missile, Russia’s most controversial weapon system?

Authorities in Denmark and Norway on the intervening night of Tuesday (Sep 23) spotted drone activities near the main airports of Copenhagen and Oslo, prompting the closure of airports. Issuing a statement, Denmark termed the incident as the most serious attack yet on its critical infrastructure and linked it to a series of suspected Russian drone incursions and other disruptions across Europe. However, Russia denied any involvement in the said incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read more |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-denies-airspace-incursion-in-estonia-says-spreading-unfounded-claims-to-stoke-tensions-1758541289959"> Russia denies airspace incursion in Estonia, says ‘spreading unfounded claims to stoke tensions’</a>&nbsp;Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, while addressing the daily briefing call, said, “We hear unfounded accusations from there every time. Perhaps a party that takes a serious, responsible position shouldn’t make such unfounded accusations time and again.” Peskov's statement came after Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said, “We are obviously not ruling out any options in relation to who is behind it. And it is clear that this fits in with the developments we have observed recently with other drone attacks, violations of airspace, and hacker attacks on European airports. I certainly cannot deny in any way that it is Russia.” Peskov had stressed a day earlier that Russian aircraft "do not violate" international law. Peskov said that the claims by Poland, Estonia and Romania are ‘baseless and unfounded’, adding: “Our military has declared that our aircraft observe international rules during all their flights and do not violate them in any way.”&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-demands-seven-nobels-for-solving-7-wars-takes-credit-for-india-pak-ceasefire-1758451846484">Trump Demands Seven Nobels for 'Solving' 7 Wars, Takes Credit for India-Pak Ceasefire</a>&nbsp;Poland, on September 9, confirmed that it shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace in a strike towards Ukraine. This was the first time since the start of the war in 2022 that a Russian incursion was reported in NATO nations bordering Russia-Ukraine. Romania was the second NATO country to report a Russian drone had breached its airspace on September 14. Then on Friday, Estonia requested an urgent consultation with other Nato members after three Russian warplanes entered its airspace “without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes.”&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-mistakes-armenia-for-albania-and-stumbles-on-azerbaijan-1758467154479">Trump Mistakes Armenia for Albania and Stumbles on Azerbaijan</a>&nbsp;On Sep 20, Britain said its fighter jets conducted a NATO air defence mission over Poland as part of an allied response to Russian drone incursions. Moscow has downplayed these incidents and has said that it has "no plans to target" facilities in Poland. These incidents have exposed the difference between European leaders' urgent calls for action against Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump's muted response to these calls.

Drone activity near Copenhagen and Oslo airports forced closures, with Denmark calling it a major attack on critical infrastructure. PM Frederiksen hinted at Russian involvement amid similar incidents across Europe. The Kremlin strongly denied the accusations, calling them baseless and unfounded.

Authorities in Denmark and Norway on the intervening night of Tuesday (Sep 23) spotted drone activities near the main airports of Copenhagen and Oslo, prompting the closure of airports. Issuing a statement, Denmark termed the incident as the most serious attack yet on its critical infrastructure and linked it to a series of suspected Russian drone incursions and other disruptions across Europe. However, Russia denied any involvement in the said incident. Read more | Russia denies airspace incursion in Estonia, says ‘spreading unfounded claims to stoke tensions’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, while addressing the daily briefing call, said, “We hear unfounded accusations from there every time. Perhaps a party that takes a serious, responsible position shouldn’t make such unfounded accusations time and again.” Peskov's statement came after Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said, “We are obviously not ruling out any options in relation to who is behind it. And it is clear that this fits in with the developments we have observed recently with other drone attacks, violations of airspace, and hacker attacks on European airports. I certainly cannot deny in any way that it is Russia.” Peskov had stressed a day earlier that Russian aircraft "do not violate" international law. Peskov said that the claims by Poland, Estonia and Romania are ‘baseless and unfounded’, adding: “Our military has declared that our aircraft observe international rules during all their flights and do not violate them in any way.” Read More | Trump Demands Seven Nobels for 'Solving' 7 Wars, Takes Credit for India-Pak Ceasefire Poland, on September 9, confirmed that it shot down Russian drones that entered its airspace in a strike towards Ukraine. This was the first time since the start of the war in 2022 that a Russian incursion was reported in NATO nations bordering Russia-Ukraine. Romania was the second NATO country to report a Russian drone had breached its airspace on September 14. Then on Friday, Estonia requested an urgent consultation with other Nato members after three Russian warplanes entered its airspace “without permission and remained there for a total of 12 minutes.” Read More | Trump Mistakes Armenia for Albania and Stumbles on Azerbaijan On Sep 20, Britain said its fighter jets conducted a NATO air defence mission over Poland as part of an allied response to Russian drone incursions. Moscow has downplayed these incidents and has said that it has "no plans to target" facilities in Poland. These incidents have exposed the difference between European leaders' urgent calls for action against Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump's muted response to these calls.

Drone activity near Copenhagen and Oslo airports forced closures, with Denmark calling it a major attack on critical infrastructure. PM Frederiksen hinted at Russian involvement amid similar incidents across Europe. The Kremlin strongly denied the accusations, calling them baseless&nbsp;

'Unfounded accusations everytime': Russia denies involvement in drone flights over airports in Denmark, Norway

In a tit-for-tat move, Russia has announced the suspension of the NATO liaison mission. The announcement comes after NATO expelled eight members of the Russian mission to the military alliance for alleged spying.

Russia has announced the suspension of the NATO liaison mission

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Russian warplanes trigger first Finland-Sweden joint operation in Baltic – What happened?

Poland's BIG warning: Putin 'plotting something bad' against NATO nations

What is the 9M729 missile, Russia’s most controversial weapon system?

Russia denies involvement in drone flights over airports in Denmark, Norway

Russia has announced the suspension of the NATO liaison mission