A new serious diplomatic incident is brewing in the relations between Russia and Sweden. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has decided to summon the Swedish Ambassador to Moscow, Kristina Johannesson. The reason for such a sharp reaction was the attack on the Russian embassy in Stockholm, which took place in the early hours of July 2.
Details of the night provocation
According to information provided by the Russian diplomatic department, two unmanned aerial vehicles launched an attack on the territory of the diplomatic mission. The incident, according to the Russian Ambassador to Sweden, Sergey Belyaev, was planned as a simulation of a real attack with the aim of intimidating staff.
The actions of the drones were clearly divided: the first device dropped a container of red paint onto the embassy grounds, creating the effect of an attack with chemical or biological weapons. The second drone, to which a simulated improvised explosive device was attached, crashed in the immediate vicinity of the building. The Russian side qualifies these actions as an attempt to intimidate diplomats.
Moscow's reaction and claims against Stockholm
Moscow has already reacted to the incident by sending an official protest to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Russian department places full responsibility for the security of diplomatic missions on the host country. Reference is made to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which obliges the receiving state to guarantee the inviolability of the premises of the mission.
Official representative of the Russian MFA Maria Zakharova confirmed that the summoning of the Swedish ambassador is a direct consequence of this incident. The department emphasizes that such actions in the Swedish capital, according to their data, have become regular. Russian diplomats note that over the last two years, there have already been dozens of such provocations, but the results of the investigations have not been made public.
Consequences for bilateral relations
Summoning an ambassador is one of the harshest tools of diplomatic pressure. This action signals that Moscow considers Stockholm's actions unacceptable and in violation of international norms. The drone incident, which Russian diplomats call a "simulated attack," could become a reason for further cooling of relations between the two countries if the Swedish side does not provide convincing explanations and ensure the security of the diplomatic mission in the future.
