Russian Military Plane Breaches Finnish Airspace for First Time Since NATO Membership

In a significant incident, a Russian military plane has breached Finnish airspace for the first time since Finland joined NATO. Officials in Finland reported that the aircraft flew at least 2.5 kilometers into the country's territory.

The breach occurred on Monday morning and lasted approximately two minutes, according to Finland's defense ministry. The ministry stated that the "suspected territorial violation" is being taken seriously and has prompted an official investigation.

Russia confirmed the operation of multiple bombers and missile carriers in the Baltic region but did not directly address the alleged airspace violation. The Kremlin has been known to conduct such operations to challenge the territorial and sovereign integrity of neighboring nations, according to the US-based think tank, The Institute for the Study of War.

This airspace breach follows a recent announcement by Kyiv, which claimed to have struck a Russian Su-57 stealth fighter, valued at up to £28 million, using long-range drones approximately 370 miles from the frontline.

In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, Germany is hosting a two-day conference beginning Tuesday to gather support for Ukraine's recovery. This event underscores the international community's commitment to supporting Kyiv amid ongoing tensions in the region.