The Finnish Border Guard said drones that entered national airspace near the eastern border most likely came from Ukraine, as investigators continue to examine a series of incidents linked to unmanned aircraft activity over the Gulf of Finland.
Authorities said on Tuesday that evidence from a preliminary inquiry points to Ukraine as the origin of two drones detected in the early hours of 3 May. The aircraft crossed into Finnish airspace before exiting towards Russia.
The incidents took place near Virolahti and in waters southeast of Hamina. Both locations lie close to the Russian border. Authorities tracked the drones as they moved from south to north-east.
The Border Guard said the aircraft left Finnish airspace and entered Russian territory. The timing coincided with a reported Ukrainian strike on the Primorsk oil port in Russia, located near the Finnish border.
Authorities have not confirmed any direct link between the drones detected in Finnish airspace and the strike.
Before the May incident, Finland recorded four drone cases in recent months. Three drones were found in March, and one was discovered in April in the municipality of Iitti. Unlike the latest case, those aircraft reached the ground.
The National Bureau of Investigation and the Border Guard have set up a joint team to examine the incidents. Police are treating the broader case as aggravated endangerment, while the Border Guard leads inquiries into airspace violations.
The increase in drone activity has led Finnish authorities to strengthen monitoring along the eastern border and coastal areas. Defence officials have increased surveillance and response measures in the Gulf of Finland.
The Border Guard said it will continue its investigation and share further information when available.
HT
