Contents tagged with Sweden

  • Sweden moves naval command to underground base to protect it from Russia

    The headquarters of the Swedish Navy have been relocated to an underground base on Muskö island, 40 km from Stockholm, The Guardian reports, citing a naval spokesperson.

    “The Muskö base is unique from a fortification perspective, it is an underground area as big as the old town in Stockholm,” said Remecca Landberg, head of communications for the Swedish Navy.

    She pointed out that the naval command must be reliable and function even under attack, which makes Muskö the “best option”. “The armed …

  • Sweden strengthens air defense systems on Gotland island to counteract Russia

    On July 1, Swedish Armed Forces reported that Swedish authorities had strengthened air defense on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. The new surface-to-air missile system has been deployed on the island due to the tense relations with Russia. The new system that is produced by Saab company will replace a previously used mobile air defense system.

    "From a military-strategic point of view, Gotland is an important region," said the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, Micael Bydén. …

  • Russia decided to expel two Swedish diplomats

    Russia expelled two Swedish diplomats, reports Expressen newspaper quoting the spokesperson of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Patric Nilsson.

    He called this decision "a response to the refusal to grant a Swedish visa to a Russian diplomat."

    TASS news agency reported that the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, also called the expulsion of diplomats a retaliation measure.

    In December last year, Reuters news agency reported about the expulsion of …

  • Ukrainian President and Prime Minister of Sweden discuss strengthening sanctions against Russia

    Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's conducted telephone conversation with Swedish Prime Minister Kjell Stefan Löfven, according to a report published on the Ukrainian President’s website.

    Ukrainian President highly appreciated Sweden's unwavering position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and expressed gratitude for the practical assistance of the Swedish side in overcoming the consequences of the Russian aggression and the implementation of the reform policy in …

  • Swedish Security Service: Russia is the main threat to national security

    The Swedish Security Service report states that Russia is the main threat to the national security of Sweden. The document also notes the increased activity of extremist groups.

    “Russia has developed the doctrine of the grey zone, which means that it wants to influence Sweden and other states without initiating armed conflict. As a part of the doctrine, they constantly collect confidential data that can be used to destabilize the country," said, the head of counterintelligence, Daniel Stenling, …

  • Russia deploys a battery of S-400 missile systems in Kaliningrad region

    The press service for the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russia deployed a battery of Triumph S-400 missile system in the Kaliningrad region.

    According to the Russian military, the systems will protect the airspace of the most western region of Russia and are part of the anti-aircraft missile regiment of the air defense of the Baltic Fleet.

    The S-400 arrived from the Astrakhan region, where they conducted test combat shooting.

    The Russian S-400 is designed to defend airspace and …

  • Media: Yanukovych transferred $36 million out of Ukraine through Swedbank

    Swedish television SVT discovered in its investigation that former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych used Swedish bank Swedbank to get money out of Ukraine, DELFI reported.

    The information obtained by the investigation indicates that an offshore company associated with Yanukovych had a Swedbank account in Lithuania from 2004 to 2014. The bank deposits were registered in the bank documents as royalties which the Ukrainian president allegedly received for “doubtful” book publications. …

  • Suspected Russian spy detained in Sweden

    Deutsche Welle reports that the Swedish State Security Service (SEPO) detained a man suspected of spying for Russia in Stockholm. 

    SEPO suspects that the detainee has been involved in espionage activities since at least 2017. He could have been recruited by a Russian intelligence agent working under diplomatic cover. 

    The detainee worked in the field of advanced technologies, in particular, with information that is of interest to foreign intelligence services, notes SEPO. 

    In December 2018, …

  • Swedish Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador after fighter jet incident over Baltic Sea

    The Swedish Foreign Ministry summoned Russian ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev due to an incident over the Baltic Sea, during which the Russian Su-27 fighter intercepted a Swedish reconnaissance aircraft, approaching it at a distance of about 20 meters, reports Interfax. 

    “The Foreign Ministry considers this incident to be very serious. The Russian aircraft acted unprofessionally and improperly, putting flight’s safety at risk,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Diana Qudhaib, told Swedish television. …

  • Sweden: Russian fighter jet conducted ‘unacceptable’ maneuvers near Swedish aircraft

    The Swedish Armed Forces reported that a Russian Su-27 fighter flew approximately 20 meters away from a Swedish plane. According to statement, the incident occurred at the beginning of the week. A specific day is not specified.

    “During the flight over the Baltic Sea in the international airspace at the beginning of the week, the Russian military Su-27 was following a Swedish reconnaissance aircraft,” the statement reads. “The Russian plane flew less than 20 meters away.” The situation has been …