Russian bombers seen off Swedish coast

“Two Jas Gripen planes followed the planes and monitored them,” said Marie Tisäter, duty officer at the Swedish Armed Forces. “They did not violate Swedish airspace.”

Other nations also reportedly sent up planes to follow the Russian bombers but Tisäter would not disclose the identity of the other nations. “It is our task to keep track of what is happening in our neighborhood. It is not a serious event but something that happens quite often. We often help with other countries' operations in the Baltic Sea and they also help us.”

The past year has been one of heightened tensions between Sweden and its eastern neighbour, riddled with spy allegations, submarine hunts and claims Russia rehearsed a military invasion of Gotland, strategically located in the middle of the Baltic Sea, back in March.

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