Sweden ready to shoot down Russian fighter jets violating its airspace Defence chief says

Sweden has announced that it is prepared to use force, if necessary, against Russian military aircraft that violate the country’s borders.

According to Aftonbladet, Defence Minister Pål Jonson stated that no state has the right to intrude into Swedish airspace and that Stockholm is fully entitled to defend its skies.

“No country has the right to violate Sweden’s airspace, so we have the right to defend it, if necessary, with the use of force,” Jonsson declared. He explained that under Sweden’s IKFN resolution, which sets out the armed forces’ responsibilities in case of territorial violations, the military is authorised to use weapons against intruding aircraft, either with or without prior warning.

His statement comes at a time when Russian provocations against NATO members have been increasing. In early September, around 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish territory, where they were intercepted and shot down by NATO air defence systems and fighter jets. Although the drones carried no combat units, the incident caused alarm in Warsaw and among allies.

On September 19, two Russian MiG-31 fighters carrying Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles entered Estonian airspace for twelve minutes, prompting NATO to scramble Italian Air Force F-35 fighters to intercept them. Around the same period, Russian fighter jets also flew over the Polish Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea, heightening concerns in the region.

The response from NATO countries has been firm. Lithuania has proposed reacting to such incursions in the same way that Türkiye did in 2015, when it shot down a Russian Su-25 that had crossed into its airspace.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that Poland would destroy any hostile objects entering its skies, while the British Ministry of Defence has made clear it shares this approach.

Russia, for its part, has rejected accusations of violating Estonian airspace. Moscow maintains that the MiG-31 aircraft in question were flying legally to Kaliningrad and did not breach NATO territory.

By Tamilla Hasanova