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Russian ambassador to Finland summoned over alleged violation of airspace by Russian jets

Earlier Finland’s Defense Ministry claimed that two Russian fighter jets had allegedly violated the country’s airspace

Alexander Rumyantsev Valery Sharifulin/TASS

Alexander Rumyantsev

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

HELSINKI, October 7. /TASS/. Russian Ambassador to Finland Alexander Rumyantsev was summoned to the Finnish foreign ministry on Friday over alleged violation of Finland’s airspace by Russian fighter jets on Thursday.

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"The Russian ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry and was informed about presumed violations of the airspace. Russia was asked to provide explanation," the Finnish Foreign Ministry said.

Earlier, Finland’s Defense Ministry claimed that two Russian fighter jets had allegedly violated the country’s airspace in the afternoon and in the evening on October 6.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, however, dismissed these allegations, saying that all flights by Russian Sukhoi-27 fighter jets on October 6 over the Gulf of Finland were over international waters, with no deviations from their routes.

"The flights over the Gulf of Finland’s international waters proceeded in accordance with flight tasks. Not a single plane strayed away from the designated route, which is confirmed by objective monitoring data," the Russian Defense Ministry said. "All flights by Russian Aerospace Force planes have been carried out in strict compliance with international rules of using airspace, over international waters, and without violations of other countries’ borders."

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