Key facts
- Ukraine launched explosive-laden drones towards Finland on May 15.
- The incident triggered a security alert in Finland's Uusimaa region, affecting 1.8 million people.
- Air traffic was halted at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
- Finnish officials initially suggested the drones originated from Russia.
- Ukraine later warned of an accidental launch.
- The Finnish Defense Forces confirmed no violation of Finnish airspace.
Finnish media outlet Helsingin Sanomat reported that Ukraine launched explosive-laden drones towards Finland on May 15, an event that triggered a significant security alert affecting 1.8 million people in the Uusimaa region. Air traffic was halted at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, and authorities issued a lockdown order. Initially, Finnish officials suggested the drones might be approaching from Russia, but sources cited by HS indicate that Ukraine had warned of an accidental launch. The Finnish Defense Forces later confirmed no violation of Finnish airspace. The lack of transparency regarding the drone's origin has led to criticism from Finnish lawmakers, who argue this information was crucial and should have been shared immediately. This incident adds to a pattern of similar events involving Ukrainian drones entering or approaching foreign airspace en route to Russian targets. Military drones straying into the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are stoking concerns that the war in Ukraine is spilling over into NATO's northern borders with Russia. As Ukraine steps up long-range attacks on Russian Baltic Sea oil shipping ports, some of its drones have missed their targets and led to security warnings in neighboring countries. Recent incidents include stray Ukrainian military drones entering Estonia and Latvia on March 25, a suspected territorial violation in Finland on March 29-30, and further drone activity detected in Estonia and Latvia on March 31. On May 7, Latvia and Lithuania called for strengthened NATO air defenses after suspected stray drones from Russia crashed in Latvia. Latvia's defense minister resigned on May 10, and the prime minister resigned on May 14, triggering a coalition government collapse. On May 15, Finland issued its warning. Explosives were found near a suspected Ukrainian drone crash in Lithuania on May 17-18. A Romanian NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia on May 19, with Ukraine apologizing and citing Russian electronic warfare. Lithuania issued an "air danger warning" on May 20, and Latvia reported drone activity on May 21. Latvia and Estonia issued further warnings on June 3.