For the first time in history: Finnish and Swedish jets scrambled against Russia

Fighter jets from Finland and Sweden were scrambled together for the first time in history to intercept a Russian military formation approaching the Gulf of Finland. The joint operation was intended to send a deterrence message to Moscow amid growing concerns in Europe about future Russian aggression. Putin dismissed the concerns with contempt.

Fighter jets from the Finnish and Swedish air forces were scrambled on September 24 to intercept a group of Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland. This is the first time in history that the two countries have conducted such a joint interception. The Russian formation included a transport aircraft, fighter jets for air-to-air and air-to-ground attack, and supersonic interceptors. Swedish Air Force Commander Jonas Wikman said the operation demonstrates seamless joint work. The scramble comes amid a series of border incidents: Russian drones entered Poland, Romania, and Moldova, a combat helicopter crossed into Poland, and Russian fighter jets entered Estonia. Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem warned that Russia could use force against his country in the coming year. Putin dismissed the remarks with ridicule in a speech in St. Petersburg, calling them 'political clowning.' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that if Putin does 'something stupid,' the response will be forceful. Danish military intelligence assessed that the risk of a limited Russian attack is low but increasing. Finland joined NATO in 2023 and Sweden in 2024, making the Baltic Sea a more protected area.