MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Swedish Air Force identified and accompanied two Russian Tu-22 Backfire bombers over the southern Baltic Sea to the east of the island of Gotland, the army said in a statement on Saturday.
“Since other nation's air forces were conducting the flight over international airspace, no violation has occurred,” the statement read.
Over the past few months, several NATO members have expressed concern over Russia's alleged violations of their airspace.
The Russian Ministry of Defense retorted that the Russian Air Force's routine flights are in compliance with international agreements and do not violate foreign airspace.
Moreover, the Russian military has maintained that the allegations represent attempts to distract attention from NATO's military buildup in the Baltic region along Russia's western borders.
