Several drones crashed in Finland on March 29, with at least one identified as Ukrainian, prompting an investigation by Finnish authorities. Ukraine has acknowledged the incident and apologized, attributing the crashes to potential interference from Russian electronic warfare systems.
Ukrainian Drones in Finnish Airspace
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said the matter is being taken “very seriously,” and that security authorities reacted immediately. The investigation into the incidents is ongoing, and more information will be provided once confirmed.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated the drones were not intercepted and fell on their own, adding that a Hornet fighter jet was dispatched to identify the objects. One unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was found north of Kouvola, and another east of the city, according to the Finnish Defense Ministry.
Kouvola is located in southeastern Finland, approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Finnish-Russian border.
Ukraine’s Response
Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, said Kyiv is in contact with Finland and sharing information to clarify the circumstances. “Under no circumstances were any Ukrainian drones heading toward Finland,” Tykhyi told journalists on March 30. He suggested the most likely cause was interference by Russian electronic warfare systems.
Tykhyi added that Ukraine has apologized for the incident, stating, “We share the view of our Finnish partners that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is the root cause of both this incident and the broader security challenges in the region.”
Finland’s Position
Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized there is no military threat to Finland. “This morning, drones have strayed into Finnish territory. One of the drones has been confirmed to be Ukrainian in origin,” Stubb said in a post to X.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen affirmed that Helsinki does not want Ukraine to suspend attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure following the incident. “Ukraine is allowed to defend itself. We do not place any demands on Ukraine regarding which targets it seeks to influence in Russia,” Valtonen said.
Valtonen added that Finland is developing its own defense against drones, expected to be ready in a few months. “Our starting point in the discussion with the Ukrainians is that this should not happen,” she said. “Finland has strong defense forces and security authorities. We will do everything we can to ensure that Finland continues to be a safe country to live in.”
The Ukrainian military has regularly targeted military infrastructure within Russia to weaken Moscow’s fighting capabilities amid the ongoing war. On March 29, Ukraine struck the oil and gas terminal in Ust-Luga for the second time in a week, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Ukrainian forces also struck the Kirishi oil refinery in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast on March 26.
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