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Finland Summons Russian Ambassador Over Suspected Airspace Incursion

A Russian IL-20 plane. Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Finland's foreign ministry said Friday that it summoned Russia's ambassador to demand an explanation after a Russian military reconnaissance plane allegedly breached Finnish airspace.

Finnish border authorities said the suspected incursion occurred Thursday afternoon in the western Gulf of Finland and lasted around three minutes.

Authorities reported that the Russian aircraft, which was identified as an Ilyushin IL-20, flew up to 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) inside Finnish territory before leaving.

The Finnish Border Guard launched an investigation into the incident.

Russia's Embassy in Helsinki did not immediately respond to requests for comment when contacted via phone and email.

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