Finland's Foreign Ministry said Friday that it had summoned Russia's ambassador to demand an explanation after a Russian military reconnaissance aircraft allegedly violated Finnish airspace over the Gulf of Finland.

The suspected incursion took place Thursday afternoon in the western Gulf of Finland and lasted approximately three minutes, according to Finnish authorities.

The Finnish Border Guard identified the aircraft as an Ilyushin Il-20 reconnaissance plane, which allegedly entered Finnish airspace and traveled as far as 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) inside Finnish territory before leaving.

The Border Guard has launched an investigation into the incident, while the Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's ambassador in Helsinki to seek clarification over the alleged violation.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in the Baltic and Nordic regions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Finland's decision to join NATO in April 2023.

Finland shares a long land border with Russia and has repeatedly expressed concern over Russian military activity in the region. The Gulf of Finland, meanwhile, is strategically important because it provides access to the Baltic Sea and lies close to Finnish and Estonian territory.

Russia's Embassy in Helsinki had not immediately responded to requests for comment by phone or email.

Finnish authorities have not indicated whether the alleged airspace violation was deliberate or accidental. The ongoing Border Guard investigation is expected to establish the aircraft's flight path and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The reported incursion is the latest in a series of incidents involving Russian military aircraft and airspace belonging to NATO member states in the Baltic region, where authorities have increased surveillance and readiness in response to heightened regional tensions. (ILKHA)