Several drones violated the airspace of Finland on Sunday, March 29. Authorities are investigating their origin. Officials suggest the drones may be Ukrainian.
Details
According to Bloomberg, multiple drones entered Finnish airspace in the morning. The Finnish Defence Forces are now investigating the incident. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the drones may have been Ukrainian and intended for strikes on Russian targets.
This is the first known case of drones violating Finland’s airspace since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish Ministry of Defence reported that one drone crashed east of Kouvola in the southeastern part of the country. Another drone, which fell north of the city, was identified as a Ukrainian AN196, according to a separate statement by the Finnish Air Force. A third unidentified drone landed on an ice-covered sea near Helsinki.
“We are taking this matter very seriously. Security authorities have responded immediately. The investigation into the events is ongoing and further details will be provided once the information has been verified,” said Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen.
Context
Finland shares a roughly 1,300-kilometer border with Russia. The country has increased surveillance in the Gulf of Finland following Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil ports in the Baltic Sea. These include the port of Primorsk port, located about 50 kilometers from the Finnish border.
During previous attacks, several Ukrainian drones reportedly went off course. One hit a power plant chimney in Estonia, while others crashed in Latvia and Lithuania. Orpo said Finland did not shoot down the drones.
“Russia conducts strong electronic interference, which may explain why these drones also stray into Finland’s airspace,” he said.
The Finnish Air Force has declared a heightened state of readiness due to Ukraine’s ongoing drone operations.
Earlier The Ukrainian Review reported that Ukrainian armed forces struck Russia’s Yaroslavl oil refinery and the Promsintez explosives plant, as well as warehouses, personnel, and other military targets.
