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Finland closes investigation of airspace incursion by Russia

Finland suspects four Russian military aircraft of violating its airspace earlier this month.

Photo shows a Russian Suhoi fighter jet and a Finnish Hornet in the air.
Russia released a video that most likely shows a Finnish Hornet fighter aircraft spotting Russian aircraft over the Gulf of Finland. Image: Venäjän puolustusministeriö
  • Yle News

A Finnish prosecutor has closed a preliminary investigation into an airspace violation by Russian military aircraft over the south coast of Finland in June, the Border Guard announced on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defence announced on 10 June that it suspected a Russian military aircraft of a territorial violation over the eastern Gulf of Finland.

During the investigation, it was discovered that four Russian aircraft violated Finnish airspace near Loviisa and Porvoo. The most egregious incursion went about 2.5 kilometres into Finnish airspace and lasted about four minutes.

The decision to close the preliminary investigation was based on a recommendation from the Border Guard.

According to the Border Guard's statement on Wednesday, charges cannot be brought due to a lack of evidence precisely identifying the perpetrator.

The Russian aircraft were identified by Finnish Air Force surveillance planes.