Finland's defence ministry said on Thursday evening that it suspects a Russian aircraft violated its airspace earlier in the day, adding to a series of incidents along the Nordic country's 1,340-kilometre border with Russia.
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said in a statement that every suspected violation is taken seriously and that an investigation is underway. The ministry did not provide details on the type of aircraft or the exact location of the incursion.
This is the third suspected Russian airspace violation reported by Finland in recent months. In May and June, Helsinki summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires after two military aircraft allegedly entered Finnish airspace.
Rising drone risks
The latest incident comes as Finnish military intelligence warns of an increasing threat from drones drifting into the country due to the war in Ukraine. Major General Pekka Turunen, head of Finnish Defence Intelligence (FDI), said the risk is growing as Ukraine strikes targets near the Gulf of Finland.
"The risk of a drone drifting into Finnish airspace or onto Finnish territory is growing all the time, the more Ukraine strikes in this area near the Gulf of Finland," Turunen said in January, ahead of the release of an intelligence report that updates Finland's security situation.
The report, published on Thursday, noted that while Finland's security environment has deteriorated since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the situation remains largely unchanged compared to a year ago.
Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, ended decades of military non-alignment after the invasion and joined NATO in April 2023. The country has since become a key frontline state in the alliance's eastern flank.
Across Europe, concerns over drone incursions have escalated. Last September, a wave of drone flyovers into NATO airspace prompted European leaders to agree on developing a "drone wall" along their borders to better detect, track, and intercept unauthorised drones. In November, NATO deployed a new US anti-drone system to its eastern flank.
Following a violation of Polish airspace, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the Eastern Sentry programme, aimed at deterring further Russian incursions. The programme is part of a broader effort to strengthen air defence across the continent.
Earlier on Thursday, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet destroyed an explosive-laden maritime drone near Europe's largest offshore gas project, hours after another drone entered Romanian airspace and crashed near the Ukrainian border. These incidents have led some European officials to suggest Moscow is testing NATO's response, raising questions about the alliance's preparedness.
The Kremlin has dismissed allegations that Russia is behind some of the unidentified drone flights in Europe as "unfounded."
Finland's defence ministry has not yet released further details on Thursday's suspected violation, but the investigation is expected to clarify the circumstances. The incident underscores the heightened vigilance required along NATO's eastern border, where the war in Ukraine continues to have spillover effects.
