Finland Summons Russian Ambassador Over Suspected Airspace Incursion

By Reuters Aug. 21, 2026 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. Read more about: Finland , Diplomacy Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Former Finnish President Urges Europe to Engage Putin Directly “I still see something rather absurd in the situation where Europeans declare that they won’t talk to the war criminal Putin, yet Trump talks to him... 2 Min read Tajikistan Summons Russian Ambassador Over Alleged Rights Violations Against Citizens The Central Asian republic’s foreign ministry reportedly expressed “serious concern” about the treatment of Tajiks living in Russia. 2 Min read Kremlin Hopes Armenia Joining ICC Will Not Affect Relations Yerevan is now required to arrest Vladimir Putin if he sets foot on Armenian territory, as the ICC issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader last... 1 Min read Sweden Summons Russian Envoy After NATO Bid Warning Tatarintsev said that Sweden would be "taking a step towards the abyss" by joining the Western alliance. 2 Min read