Finland’s Ministry of Defense has launched an official investigation following a suspected airspace violation by a Russian aircraft in the Gulf of Finland.
On May 27, 2026, the Ministry of Defense suggested that the airspace violation may have occurred while the Russian aircraft was avoiding a thunderstorm off Porkkala.
The Finnish Air Force mounted a response to the incident by deploying an operational flight. No further details were provided about any specific aircraft.
“An investigation into the suspected airspace violation has been launched immediately,” Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen said.
The Finnish Border Guard are leading the investigation to uncover how the incident occurred. More information will be provided as this inquiry progresses.
The incident comes after the UK MOD’s disclosure of an April 2026 episode in which an RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint operating over the Black Sea was intercepted by Russian Su-35 and Su-27 fighters behaving dangerously.
One Russian aircraft passing within six meters of the British plane’s nose, triggering its onboard emergency systems.
Furthermore, on May 21, 2026, the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania issued a joint statement urging NATO to transition its Baltic Air Policing mission into a full air defense mission and to reinforce the alliance’s eastern flank with additional counter-drone capabilities.
