Relations between Finland and Russia have worsened following an alleged incident involving two Russian military aircraft violating Finnish airspace last Friday, May 23, 2025. In response, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned today, Monday, May 26, the Russian Ambassador in Helsinki, Pavel Kuznetsov, to request formal explanations about the event. The incident, which occurred off the coast of Porvoo, about 50 kilometers east of the capital, has rekindled security concerns in the Baltic region.

What happened is not a lightning from a clear sky but fits into a context of growing tensions between the two countries, which have drastically intensified after Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland, which shares a border of over 1340 kilometers with Russia, abandoned decades of military neutrality to join NATO in April 2023. A historic move motivated by changing regional security dynamics and Russian aggression, which has prompted repeated criticism and warnings from Moscow, threatening retaliations.

In recent weeks, Finnish and NATO Alliance concerns have been further fueled by reports and satellite imagery showing a significant strengthening of Russian military infrastructure near the Finnish border. This included new bases, armored vehicle depots, and even tent camps to host thousands of soldiers in locations such as Kamenka and Petrozavodsk. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen had already stated last week that Helsinki was "closely monitoring and assessing Russia's activities and intentions", emphasizing that Russia’s moves to reinforce their armed forces were not a surprise for Finland, which has already increased military investments and defense readiness. According to the Finnish Ministry of Defense last Friday, two Russian military aircraft reportedly crossed into Finnish airspace near Porvoo for an indeterminate period before exiting. No details were provided about the types of aircraft involved or the depth of their incursion.

The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, announced the summoning of the Russian Ambassador through a statement on her "X" profile, reaffirming the seriousness with which Helsinki regards such violations. "We take the suspected airspace violation seriously, and an investigation is underway", Minister Häkkänen declared in an interview with the Finnish public broadcaster "YLE". He also added that Finnish authorities intend to formally request an explanation from Moscow through diplomatic channels, as is being done currently.

The Finnish Coast Guard unit of the Gulf of Finland has initiated a preliminary investigation into the event to determine whether the incursion was deliberate or accidental, although such events are rare and always politically sensitive.

So far, the Russian Embassy in Helsinki has not issued a public response to the summoning. Last Friday’s incident is the first suspected violation of Finnish airspace by Russian aircraft since February 2025, when another Russian aircraft was suspected of briefly crossing over the Gulf of Finland, west of Hanko. This pattern of violations, although not frequent, contributes to keeping tensions high in an already pressured region, where NATO allies have increased their military presence and joint exercises. The alliance remains on alert following a series of incidents involving submarine cables and gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea since late 2022.

Finland reiterates its firm stance on protecting its territorial integrity and its solidity as a NATO member, ready to cooperate with allies to ensure stability and security in the region.