Swedish Commander Confirms Possible Shootdown of Russian Aircraft Violating Airspace

The Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces, Mikael Klasson, did not deny the possibility of shooting down Russian aircraft in case of a violation of the country’s airspace. Such positions are evident from official statements by the leadership regarding the principles of responding to aerial threats.

“If you do not follow orders, the ultimate step is the possibility to use force, to first signal, and then apply effective fire. In other words, to shoot down.”

Klasson explained that the decision to open fire is made by the pilot who faces the threat of border violation. He also stressed the high training and experience of air crews, which enable them to act quickly and in line with crisis circumstances.

“In my view, our pilots have both the training and the experience to make decisions in such situations”

The Commander-in-Chief also pointed out that escalation of conflict should never be underestimated, although at present he does not consider it likely. “I do not think Russia wants a war with NATO. I believe it aims to politically split NATO, expose our weak spots, exploit them and sow fear among our peoples,” he noted.

“I do not think Russia wants a war with NATO. I believe it aims to politically split NATO, expose our weak spots, exploit them and sow fear among our peoples”

In the context of regional security, Klasson touched on analytical findings regarding Russia’s actions in the airspace of neighboring countries. The broadcaster also drew attention to statements by the President of Finland about decisions not to issue an immediate order to shoot down unknown objects violating airspace, with these decisions to be made by Finnish forces during crises.

Chronicle of regional airspace violations

In the night of September 10, Russian drones violated Polish airspace. As a result of the incident the drones were partially shot down – about four of nineteen; fragments were found in several regions of the Lublin Voivodeship. The Polish government activated certain legal articles to discuss the situation, but stated its intention not to loosen control restrictions.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that drones that attacked Ukraine could have crossed the Polish border, and expressed readiness for consultations with Warsaw. The Kremlin did not provide official comments on this matter. On September 12, NATO announced the start of Operation Eastern Guard on the Alliance’s eastern flank, aimed at eliminating threats associated with the use of drones, with emphasis on Poland and Romania.

On September 14, Polish President Karol Navrotsk y signed a resolution allowing NATO member troops to stay within the framework of the “Eastern Guard” operation. On September 13, in the northern regions of Romania, an air alert was declared due to the threat from attack drones; around 18:12 two F-16 fighters were scrambled, which around 19:00 intercepted a Russian drone over the Danube. The Ministry of Defense clarified that the drone did not fly over populated areas and did not pose a threat to civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted, noting that the drone flew over Romania for about 50 minutes.

On September 19, three Russian fighters were in Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes. Estonia’s Foreign Minister called this a violation of territorial integrity and the principles of the UN Charter. On September 22, in New York, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was held due to the violation of Estonia’s airspace by Russia. On September 23, a meeting of the North Atlantic Council under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty was held to discuss and condemn these actions. Such events highlight vigilance and coordination among allies regarding monitoring air corridors and responding to airspace violations.

Overall, the current situation underscores growing regional tension and the need for close cooperation among partner countries in monitoring air corridors and promptly responding to aerial threats.