Swedish Parliamentary Report Says Russian Attack Cannot Be Ruled Out

CV90 combat vehicles are seen during the Aurora 23 military exercise at Rinkaby firing range outside Kristianstad, Sweden, May 06, 2023. (TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via Reuters) 

VOA/Reuters: Russian Attack Cannot Be Ruled Out, Says Swedish Parliamentary Report – SVT 

Stockholm — A Swedish parliament defense committee report said a Russian military attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out, Swedish public service broadcaster SVT said on Sunday, citing sources. 

Sweden has been scrambling to bolster its defenses and applied to join NATO last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sweden was invited to apply but Turkey and Hungary are yet to ratify the application. 

The parliamentary report, due to be published on Monday, said that although Russian ground forces were tied up in Ukraine, other types of military attacks against Sweden could not be ruled out, SVT said, citing sources who worked on the report.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This Swedish report was made public to push this .... We're ready to join NATO: Swedish Defense Minister (Kurdistan 24).

Sweden Refuses To Share The Findings Of Their Investigation Into The Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion With Russia

The disturbance in the water above the gas leak, in the Baltic Sea, is shown above on Sept. 29, 2022. There were two leaks off Sweden's coast following the suspected sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines that carry Russian natural gas to Europe. (Rune Dyrholm/Armed Forces of Denmark via AP)  

FOX News/AP: Sweden's prime minister refuses to share pipeline probe results with Russia 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West, including the US, of attacking the pipelines 

Sweden’s prime minister says that her country cannot share with Russia details from its probe into last month's underwater explosions that ruptured two key gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, citing confidentiality surrounding the investigation. 

"In Sweden there is secrecy around preliminary investigation and that also applies in this case," Magdalena Andersson said of the blast and ruptures that happened in international waters off Sweden's Baltic coastline but within the country's exclusive economic zone.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It is not Russia that they want to keep details of their investigation secret. They want to keep their findings away from all of us. Russia is just their excuse. 

Sweden Refuses To Share The Findings Of Their Investigation Into The Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion With Russia 

Sweden won't share Nord Stream investigation findings with Russia - PM -- Reuters  

Sweden Boots Russia From Nord Stream Investigation -- OilPrice.com  

Sweden Refuses To Share Results Of Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion Investigation With Russia -- Summit News  

Sweden will not share Nord Stream probe findings with Russia – PM -- RT 

Sweden rejects Russian demand to share Nord Stream leaks probe findings -- CGTN

Russia Threatening A Nuclear Escalation If Sweden And Finland Join NATO

Russia has warned NATO that if Sweden and Finland joined the military alliance then the Kremlin would have to bolster its nuclear defences in the Baltic  

CNBC: Russia threatens new nuclear deployments if Sweden, Finland join NATO 

* Russia says a nuclear-free Baltic region would no longer be possible if Finland and Sweden join NATO, alluding to additional nuclear deployments in Europe. 

* The comments come a day after Finland and Sweden said their decision on whether to apply for NATO membership would come within a matter of weeks. 

* Finland and Sweden are members of the EU, but not NATO, and the latter shares a 830-mile border with Russia. 

Russia says a nuclear-free Baltic region would no longer be possible if Finland and Sweden join NATO, alluding to additional nuclear deployments in Europe. 

“If Sweden and Finland join NATO, the length of the alliance’s land borders with the Russian Federation will more than double. Naturally, these borders will have to be strengthened,” Dmitry Medvedev, former president and deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, wrote on his official Telegram channel on Thursday. 

Russia will have to “seriously strengthen the grouping of land forces and air defense, deploy significant naval forces in the waters of the Gulf of Finland. In this case, it will no longer be possible to talk about any nuclear-free status of the Baltic - the balance must be restored,” he said.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Russian threats aside, it looks like Finland and Sweden are going to join NATO in the coming weeks .... Sweden, Finland edge closer to joining NATO in wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (Reuters). 

Russia Threatening A Nuclear Escalation If Sweden And Finland Join NATO   

Medvedev issues warning over plans by Sweden and Finland to join NATO -- TASS  

Russia warns of nuclear, hypersonic deployment if Sweden and Finland join NATO -- Reuters  

Russia threatens nuclear escalation if Sweden and Finland join NATO -- SKY News  

Russia threatens to send nuclear weapons to the Baltic Sea if Finland and Sweden join NATO to 'restore the balance' after Putin's Ukraine invasion spectacularly backfired -- Daily Mail  

Russia warns of nuclear weapons in Baltic if Sweden and Finland join Nato -- The Guardian  

Russia threatens military build up if Finland or Sweden join NATO -- Euronews  

Russia warns of new nuclear deployments in Baltics if Finland, Sweden join NATO -- The Hill  

Russia makes nuclear threat to Sweden, Finland over NATO consideration -- FOX News  

Medvedev warns nuclear expansion assured if Sweden and Finland join NATO -- Washington Examiner

Sweden Condemns Four Russian Fighter Jets Violating Its Airspace Over The Baltic Sea On Wednesday

Two Russian aircrafts SU 27 and two SU 24 are pictured after violating Swedish airspace east of Gotland, over the sea

Daily Mail: FOUR Russian fighter jets violate Swedish airspace while military exercise with Finland takes place – days after Putin warned the countries they face military action if they joined Nato 

* The four aircraft - two SU-27 and two SU-24 fighters - flew near island of Gotland 

* Sweden's armed forced confirmed the incident, saying jets were photographed 

* The country scrambled its own jets, and rebuked Russia for breaching air space 

* Sweden is set to send military aid, including 5,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, first time since 1939 that Sweden has sent weapons to a country at war 

Sweden said four Russian fighter jets violated its airspace over the Baltic Sea on Wednesday, as Moscow forces continued to bombard cities in Ukraine. 

The four aircraft - two SU-27 and two SU-24 fighters - flew briefly over Swedish airspace east of the island of Gotland, according to a statement from the Swedish Armed Forces. 

The incident came days after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened military action against Sweden and neighboring Finland should either join NATO. 

The countries are currently conducting joint military exercises. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It looks like Russia is also testing Japanese airspace .... Japan scrambles fighters as suspected Russian military helicopter enters Hokkaido airspace (Japan times). 

Sweden Condemns Four Russian Fighter Jets Violating Its Airspace Over The Baltic Sea On Wednesday  

Russian warplanes violate Sweden's airspace -- UPI Sweden condemns Russian violation of its airspace -- The Hill 

Swedish defence minister calls Russian violation of airspace 'unacceptable' -- Reuters  

Sweden summons Russian officials after fighter jets fly near Gotland island -- Euronews

Russian Foreign Ministry Issues An Ominous Warning To Finland And Sweden Should They Join NATO

Russia just threatened military consequences against Finland and Sweden.
They f***** insane. pic.twitter.com/w4BfHfYYEW

— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) February 25, 2022

💬#Zakharova: We regard the Finnish government’s commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe.

☝️Finland’s accession to @NATO would have serious military and political repercussions. pic.twitter.com/eCY5oG23rL

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) February 25, 2022

Newsweek: Russia Issues Ominous Warning to Finland, Sweden Should They Join NATO 

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has said that Moscow would have to respond if Sweden and Finland intended to join NATO. 

Maria Zakharova held a press conference on Friday and reflected on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the intentions of Russia going forward. 

A clip of her speech has begun to go viral on social media as she appears to issue a threat aimed at Sweden and Finland, saying it would have "serious military-political repercussions." 

The video has amassed over 300,000 views. Read more ....  

Update #1: Russia threatens 'military and political consequences' if Finland, Sweden try joining NATO (The Hill)  

Update #2: Russia Sends Bone-Chilling Message To Sweden & Finland; Threatens ‘Military Implications’ If They Go The Ukraine Way (EurAsian Times)  

WNU Editor: The Kremlin is responding to this .... Finland says debate on NATO membership 'will change' after Russian invasion (The Hill).

Sweden Beefs Up Troops On The Critical Island Of Gotland

Soldiers from a Gotland regiment patrol Visby harbour, amid increased tensions between Nato and Russia over Ukraine, on Jan 13, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS 

Reuters: Sweden boosts patrols on Gotland amid Russia tensions 

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden's military said on Thursday it was ramping up its visible activities on the Baltic Sea island of Gotland amid increased tensions between NATO and Russia and a recent deployment of Russian landing craft in the Baltic. 

Moscow has spooked the West by massing troops near Ukraine, sparking fears that it is considering invading. 

Moscow denies any such plans, saying it can deploy forces on its territory however it chooses. 

Gotland, Sweden's biggest island, is strategically important and lies around 330 kilometres (205 miles) from Kaliningrad, the headquarters of Russia's Baltic Fleet. 

In 2019 Sweden deployed an updated ground-to-air missile defence system on the island.  

Read more .... 

Sweden Beefs Up Troops On The Critical Island Of Gotland  

Swedes step up military contingency over Russian activity -- AP  

Sweden, Worried by Russia, Beefs Up Troops on Gotland -- Bloomberg  

Sweden boosts patrols on Gotland island amid Russia tensions -- Euractiv  

Sweden Bolsters Gotland Patrols Amid NATO-Russia Tensions -- Sputnik

Russian MoD Releases Cockpit Video Of A Su-27 ‘Escorting’ U.S. And Swedish Spy Planes

TASS: Russia’s Su-27 fighter intercepts US, Swedish spy jets over the Baltic Sea

The Baltops-2019 NATO naval drills are held on June 9-21 in the southern part of the Baltic Sea

MOSCOW, June 11. /TASS/. A Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled on Monday to intercept US and Swedish reconnaissance planes near Russia’s border over the Baltic Sea where NATO is holding drills, and escorted the jets to prevent the violation of Russia’s state border, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"On June 10, the Russian airspace control services over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea detected two air targets approaching Russia’s state border. A Su-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Fleet’s Air Defense Forces was scrambled to intercept the targets," the statement said.

Read more ....

More News On Russia Releasing Cockpit Video Of A Su-27 ‘Escorting’ U.S. And Swedish Spy Planes

Russian MoD shares COCKPIT VIDEO of Su-27 ‘escorting’ US & Swedish spy planes -- RT
Russia Says It Intercepted U.S., Swedish Spy Jets Over Baltic Sea -- Moscow Times/Reuters
Kremlin claims it intercepted 'spy jets' headed for Russian airspace as video shows Russian fighter jet escorting USAF and Swedish aircraft over Baltic Sea -- Daily Mail
Russia intercepts US, Swedish spy planes over Baltic Sea -- CNN

Sweden Issues Pamphlets To All Homes On What To Do In The Event Of War

Yahoo News: Sweden distributes 4.7 million leaflets on how to prepare for war with Russia

Sweden is reportedly preparing to issue a public information manual on the best way to deal with the prospect of war, as talk rages over an apparent rise in the rest from Russia.

The brochure, which will be sent to 4.7 million households, will tell the public how they can take part in ‘total defence’ during a war and secure food, water and heating.

It is titled ‘If Crisis or War Comes’ and will also provide expert guidance on the best way to deal with threats from cyber attacks, climate change and terrorism.

The brochures comes after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and continued support for Ukrainian separatists, which has sparked deep concerns within Sweden.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Russians are not going to invade. Instead, Sweden should focus on what has become a real problem .... Bring in the military to fight gangs, Sweden's PM told at debate (The Local/SE). More here .... Swedish PM does not rule out use of army to end gang violence (Reuters).

More News On Sweden Issuing Pamphlets To All Homes On What To Do In The Event Of War

Swedes told how to prepare for war as Russia fears grow -- Financial Times
Sweden to issue leaflets on how to prepare for war -- BBC
Sweden sends leaflets to 5m homes on how to prepare for war with Russia -- Telegraph
Sweden to publish leaflets warning citizens over potential war -- CNN
Fearing Russia, Sweden Will Send War Instruction Manuals to Millions of Civilians -- Newsweek
Financial Times: Swedes being told how to prepare for war -- The Hill
Sweden Reissues Millions of Cold War Pamphlets to Tutor Locals in Civil Defense -- Sputnik

Russia Simulated A Nuclear Strike Against Sweden In 2013

NATO report: A 2013 Russian aerial exercise was actually a 'simulated nuclear attack' on Sweden

Newsweek: Russia Practiced Nuclear Strike on Sweden: NATO Report

Russia’s air force has practiced a nuclear strike against Sweden, according to a report by NATO’s secretary general.

The Russian training mission, which took place in March 2013 by the eastern edge of the Stockholm archipelago, attracted a great deal of media attention and some Swedish media outlets speculated the maneuvers resembled what a Russian aerial attack on Sweden would look like.

The incident involved a rapid deployment of Russian bomber and fighter aircraft at Sweden’s aerial border, prompting an embarrassingly slow response from the Swedish air force. Unable to mobilize its own air force in time, Stockholm had to ask NATO to send jets to deal with the possible threat.

Read more ....

More News On Russia Simulating A Nuclear Strike Against Sweden In 2013

Russia 'simulated a nuclear strike' against Sweden, Nato admits -- The Telegraph
NATO report: A 2013 Russian aerial exercise was actually a 'simulated nuclear attack' on Sweden -- Business Insider
Russian menace pushes Sweden towards Nato -- BBC

Swedish Fighters Intercept Russian Bombers Over The Baltic

Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers

Reuters: Sweden intercepts Russian planes over Baltic amid regional tensions

(Reuters) - Swedish fighters intercepted four Russian planes flying in international air space over the Baltic sea with their transponders turned off, the country's military said on Tuesday.

Relations between the West and Russia have soured as a result of Moscow's role in the conflict in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea, while increased Russian military activity in the Baltic has added to tension.

Sweden, which is not a member of NATO, said it had intercepted two Russian Backfire bombers which were being escorted by two Flanker fighter jets.

Update: Sweden Reports Russian Bombers, Fighters Over Baltic Sea -- NYT

WNU Editor: These planes were in international waters .... but the tensions are obviously there.

Sweden: Russian Military Jet Nearly Collided With A Passenger Plane

Russian Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft (front) is seen escorted by a Norwegian Air Force jet, October 31, 2014

Russian Military Aircraft Nearly Collides Mid-Air With Passenger Jet Over Sweden After 'Outright Dangerous' Decision To Switch Off Its Transponders -- Daily Mail

* The commercial flight was immediately ordered to change course
* Swedish fighter jets identified the plane as Russian intelligence plane
* In March a Russian plane came within 300 feet of an SAS plane
* And in October Sweden launched a hunt for a submarine in the Baltic Sea

For the second time this year, a Russian military aircraft turned off its transponders to avoid commercial radar and nearly collided with a passenger jet over Sweden, officials have revealed.

Swedish authorities yesterday said a Russian military aircraft nearly collided above southern Sweden with a commercial passenger jet that had taken off on Friday from Copenhagen.

Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told a local radio station: 'This is serious. This is inappropriate. This is outright dangerous when you turn off the transponder.'

Read more ....

More News On Reports That A Russian Military Jet Nearly Collided With A Passenger Plane Over Sweden

Sweden: Russian aircraft nearly collides with passenger jet -- USA Today/AP
Russian military jet nearly collides with passenger plane - again -- Deutsche Welle
Russian Military Jet Nearly Collides With Passenger Plane -- Radio Free Europe
Copenhagen flight nearly hit by Russian military jet -- The Local
'Foreign military aircraft' nearly collides with passenger plane over Sweden -- Independent.ie

Update: Russia is denying Swedish claims that a there was a "close call" .... Russia rejects Sweden minister statement on Russian warplane spotted in air space (ITAR-TASS).

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: The Swedish Navy Was Chasing A 'Log In The Water', Not A Submarine

Is this it? This grainy amateur photo showing a mysterious vessel in Stockholm's archipelago was released by the Swedish military during the hunt

Lavrov Says Was Not Contacted During Swedish Submarine Hunt, Sub Could Be a ‘Log’ -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday Sweden had not contacted Russia during its week-long hunt for a foreign submarine that allegedly got into trouble in the waters off Stockholm.

Lavrov, who appeared on the Vesti v Subbotu (Vesti on Saturday) show, was asked whether Oslo had contacted Moscow via diplomatic channels following the initial reports, to which he responded with a "no".

The Russian foreign minister said he was surprised by the media hype around the purported distress signal that Sweden had intercepted in its waters.

Read more ...

My Comment: This is Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's way of mocking the Swedes.

Update: ‘Russian distress call’ prompting Swedish sub hunt never existed – sigint source -- RT

Russia Denies Having A Submarine In Swedish Waters. Speculates That it May Be A Dutch Sub

Mysterious ‘Russian Sub’ Off Sweden May Be Dutch – Defense Ministry Source -- RT

Swedish authorities reportedly searching for a Russian submarine in its waters are probably looking in the wrong direction. The sub is probably Dutch, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry told RT.

Earlier Swedish media reported that the nation’s navy is looking for a submarine in the Baltic Sea, possibly belonging to Russia.

Russia said there was no substance in reports of the Russian connection in the story.

“On Sunday the Russian Defense Ministry provided whatever aid it could to the Swedes in their futile search,” the source commented.

Read more ....

More News On Russian Denials Of Having A Submarine Operating In Swedish Waters

Russia denies submarine is in trouble in Swedish waters -- South China Morning Post/Reuters
Russian Submarine in Swedish Waters 'Belongs to Dutch Navy' Claims Pro-Kremlin Media -- IBTimes
Mysterious submarine near Stockholm might be Dutch: Russian source -- Asia One/AFP
Russia denies submarine incident off Sweden -- BBC
Russia: Submarine in Swedish waters was Dutch, not ours -- Haaretz

My Comment: By the sounds of it .... I get the impression that the Russians are mocking the Swedes.

Update: The Dutch are denying Russian reports that they have a sub in Swedish waters:

Dutch deny link to mystery submarine off Sweden -- RTE
Dutch deny Russian claims that mystery submarine off Sweden is theirs -- Voice of Russia
Dutch Defense Ministry Says ‘Suspicious Object’ Sought by Sweden Not Dutch Submarine -- RIA Novosti

Russian Warplanes Entered Swedish Airspace Promting Protests From Stockholm

Su-24M of the Russian Air Force in May 2009. Wikipedia

Sweden Protests Against Airspace Violation By Russian Planes -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Sweden said two Russian warplanes entered its airspace this week, calling the intrusion a "serious violation" and sending a protest to Moscow's ambassador in the Nordic country.

Countries in the region have become increasingly wary of Russia's military ambitions since Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in March.

Western powers have also accused Russia of sending troops to back rebels in eastern Ukraine - a charge it denies.

Sweden's foreign ministry said on Friday the two Russian warplanes entered Swedish airspace south of the island of Oland in the Baltic Sea on Wednesday.

Read more ....

More News On Sweden Protesting Russian Violations Of It's Airspace

Sweden protests Russian incursion into its airspace -- AFP
Sweden Complains to Russia Over Airspace Violation -- WSJ
Sweden protests Russian airspace violation -- Europe Online
Two Russian attack planes intentionally violated the Swedish airspace to probe local air defense -- The Aviationist

Scandinavian Airlines Flight In Near Miss With Russian Spy Plane

A SAS Airbus 330 plane is parked at a gate at Arlanda airport in Sweden, August 16, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Johan Nilsson/Scanpix Sweden

SAS Flight In Russian Spy Plane Near Miss -- The Local

A Scandinavian Airlines flight had to take last minute evasive action to avoid colliding with a Russian spy plane just off the Swedish south coast in March, according to a report which emerged on Thursday.

According to a Sveriges Television report on Thursday, the incident occurred on March 3rd just 50 kilometres south of the Swedish city of Malmö - home to over 300,000 people.

The plane was reportedly a Russian Ilyushin 20m military aircraft used for signals surveillance. The two aircraft are reported to have passed by each other a mere 90 metres apart.

The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (Statens Haverikommission) has reviewed the incident and decided against opening an investigation into the matter.

"We have let the matter go. Firstly the incident occurred over international waters, moreover the plane was Danish registered. This means that it is outside our area of ​​responsibility," Jens Olsson at the board told the TT news agency.

Read more ....

Update: SAS plane in close encounter with Russian spy plane in March -- Reuters

My Comment: This happened in March and we are only learning about it now .... makes you wonder what else has happened that is still being kept secret from us.