"The recurring Russian actions over the Baltic Sea are serious. The Air Force's rapid response shows why preparedness is required every day," writes Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) on X.
The incidents involving the two Russian fighter jets occurred on Friday near Swedish airspace and prompted two operations with JAS 39 Gripen fighters, the Swedish Armed Forces wrote in a press release. The operations took place in the southern and northern parts of the Baltic Sea, south of Ronneby and north of Gotland.
Were these two different incidents?
It was during a fairly short period, so it's really just a matter of minutes," says the Armed Forces' duty communicator Hanna Heurlin.
Allied fighter aircraft also took off from Denmark. Swedish airspace was not violated.
The Swedish Armed Forces do not specify how close to the border they were.
Is this some kind of escalation?
The security situation in our area remains very serious. There is an increased threat to allied airspace. We have also strengthened our presence and adapted our preparedness during the year and recently. But I cannot say anything more than that, says Hanna Heurlin.
"The Russian actions are serious and are a recurring behavior that threatens both our territorial integrity and security. Swedish and allied fighter aircraft acted quickly, resolutely and clearly by meeting the Russian planes and securing Sweden's and the alliance's territory," says Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, Head of the Swedish Armed Forces' Operations Command, in the press release.
The two Russian fighter jets were an Su-24 and an Su-34.
