Finland Fires Bombs to Fend Off Possible Russian Submarine

Russia hasn't exactly been shy on the military front lately, and it doesn't appear to be backing down now.

Finland, which shares a border of more than 800 miles with Russia, fired underwater late Monday and into Tuesday at what many believe is a Russian submarine stationed just off the coast of Helsinki, Sky News reported.

Firm and steadfast reaction. #Finland Uses Depth Charges 2 Chase Off Suspected Submarine. https://t.co/xcXImGbitP pic.twitter.com/7f3xviRntP"

— Lithuania in NATO (@LitdelNATO) April 28, 2015

Finnish navy chief Commodore Olavi Jantunen said the bombs are not meant to damage the targets.

"The purpose is to let the target know that it has been noticed," Jantunen said.

The explosive warning came as tensions in eastern Europe are running high amid growing concerns over Russia's willingness and capability to violate territorial sovereignty as it did in Ukraine in 2014. The icy conflict occurred just months after Swedish officials noticed a "foreign vessel" off the coast of Stockholm.

Russia denied any claims of "irregular activity" at the time, pointing its finger instead to the Netherlands, the BBC reported.

Finland's defense minister, Carl Haglund, didn't provide a definitive explanation for exactly who or what is in the water just off the coast of one of the country's biggest cities, but gave no indication that it was welcome to stay.

"We strongly suspect that there has been underwater activity that does not belong there," Haglund said, while adding that it is "always serious" if territorial waters are being "violated."

In a recent joint statement by Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland, officials from those countries defended the decision to beef up defense efforts in the region because of "challenges" posed by Russia, Reuters reported.

(H/T: Sky News)

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