Ukraine has apologized to Finland after drones entered its airspace, attributing the incident to potential disruption by Russian electronic warfare systems.
Ukraine Expresses Regret
A spokesperson stated unequivocally that no Ukrainian drones were intentionally directed towards Finland. The most likely cause, they said, is that the drones were deflected off course by Russian electronic warfare systems, and an apology has been issued to the Finnish side.
Drone Incursion Details
Finnish authorities reported drone intrusions on Sunday, March 28th, following increased Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil ports in the St. Petersburg region. This marked the first time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war that drones had penetrated Finnish airspace.
The drones crashed near Kouvola, approximately 140 km east of Helsinki and 80 km from the Russian border. One drone was identified as a Ukrainian-made Antonov An-196, a long-range reconnaissance UAV.
Escalated Regional Tensions
Both Ukraine and Finland believe Russian aggression against Ukraine is the root cause of the incident and broader security challenges in the region.
Recent Ukrainian Drone Strikes
Over the past week, Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on two key Russian ports in the Gulf of Finland: Primorsk, near the Finnish border, and Ust-Luga, near Estonia. These attacks have damaged infrastructure, caused fires, and disrupted Russian fuel exports via “shadow fleets.”
