Unknown UAVs flew over the prohibited area of Utö (island in Sweden) where the BALTOPS NATO military exercises were being held with Sweden and Finland. The incident took place in June; however, it was kept secret, Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reports.

Part of the exercise was held from June 10-13 on the island of Utö. There, marines from Sweden and Finland were practicing with colleagues from the U.S.A., Great Britain and Germany. Flights were prohibited during the exercises.

"We have information that during the night unknown UAVs flew over Utö two times," a spokesman of the Swedish Armed Forces, Philip Simon said. The Armed Forces did not specify how seriously this incident is considered. "First of all, we should carry out an investigation. But until then, no comments," Philip Simon said.

According to the newspaper’s sources, UAVs flew over the island at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters. These UAVs are suspected to be piloted from abroad.

The newspaper noted that during the same exercises in southern Sweden last year, a UAV illegally took photos for a media company. At that time, the UAV flew at a low altitude.

BALTOPS exercises were conducted with the participation of 15 countries from June 3 – 19.

  NATO, Sweden

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