Drone enters Finnish airspace near Russia's Leningrad Oblast

An unidentified drone has breached Finland's airspace near the border with Russia.

Source: Finland's Ministry of Defence; European Pravda; Yle, Finland's national public broadcasting company

Details: The ministry said the drone was spotted over the municipality of Virolahti, an area bordering Russia's Leningrad Oblast.

The type and origin of the drone have not been established. The ministry added that the drone is no longer in Finnish airspace.

The case is being investigated by the Finnish Border Guard, which is expected to provide more information as the inquiry continues.

Yle reported that the Finnish armed forces introduced a temporary aviation restriction zone over a maritime area near the ports of Kotka and Hamina from 01:57 to 08:00 on 3 May. Both cities are also close to the border with Russia.

The restricted zone is intended to improve situational awareness and ensure safe control of potential stray drones.

Background:

• This is the fifth such incident in Finland. In the final days of March, three drones were found in various locations in south-eastern Finland, identified as Ukrainian UAVs that had broken away from a drone swarm intended to attack Russian territory.
• It was also reported on 3 May that residents in several regions of Latvia and Estonia have been warned about a possible drone threat linked to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Latvian and Estonian media said the incidents were connected to a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Leningrad Oblast.

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