Russian helicopters would have violated Finnish and Georgian airspace. Both episodes would have occurred a few hours ago. According to the news agency Yle, the Finnish border guard would have detected an "unidentified helicopter" (but of Russian production) that violated the country's airspace.
After numerous warnings from the Finnish Air Force, the helicopter returned to Russia. According to Helsinki, the helicopter would have driven nine kilometers into Finnish territory for a total of six minutes of unauthorized flight.
24 hours earlier another similar episode would have occurred in Georgia always by a Russian helicopter (Mi-8). Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov denied these allegations, pointing out that the Georgian authorities based their accusations on unconfirmed rumors of "some local witnesses". The Finnish episode has not been commented.
Although these episodes may generate an armed response, the Russian press prefers to make irony about the episodes. The alleged Finnish encroachment has been named as "Little Santa's helper in flight?"
If the Finns had used the same answer as the Turks, perhaps few would have joked. It is however the classic game of cat with mouse. A risky "hit and run" used for decades to test countries' ability to react. And sometimes, someone dies.
