Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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Russian Su-24 violates Norwegian airspace northeast of Vardø.

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On 25 April 2025, a Russian Su-24 military aircraft entered Norwegian sovereign airspace over the sea northeast of Vardø. The Norwegian government confirmed that the violation lasted four minutes. Authorities publicly disclosed the incident on 23 September 2025 alongside two separate Russian airspace violations that occurred in July and August. The April incursion was the first of these three events, following approximately ten years without comparable violations of Norwegian airspace. Its reported location was offshore, rather than over Vardø itself. Norwegian authorities raised the incidents directly with Russia and requested explanations. They also informed the Norwegian parliament and shared information with NATO allies. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the violations as unacceptable but said authorities could not determine whether they were intentional or resulted from navigational errors. The government’s statement did not provide the aircraft’s precise route, penetration distance or details of an interception. Accordingly, this entry should record a confirmed Russian military airspace violation, while leaving any claim of deliberate reconnaissance, provocation or attack unconfirmed. regjeringen.no

Occurrence
Publication
First observed
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
Norway
Updated

Attribution

Official

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    Discovery lead
    Publication

    On 25 April 2025, a Russian Su-24 military aircraft entered Norwegian sovereign airspace over the sea northeast of Vardø. The Norwegian government confirmed that the violation lasted four minutes. Authorities publicly disclosed the incident on 23 September 2025 alongside two separate Russian airspace violations that occurred in July and August. The April incursion was the first of these three events, following approximately ten years without comparable violations of Norwegian airspace. Its reported location was offshore, rather than over Vardø itself. Norwegian authorities raised the incidents directly with Russia and requested explanations. They also informed the Norwegian parliament and shared information with NATO allies. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the violations as unacceptable but said authorities could not determine whether they were intentional or resulted from navigational errors. The government’s statement did not provide the aircraft’s precise route, penetration distance or details of an interception. Accordingly, this entry should record a confirmed Russian military airspace violation, while leaving any claim of deliberate reconnaissance, provocation or attack unconfirmed. regjeringen.no