Ukraine has issued an apology to Finland after two of its drones crashed in the southern part of the Nordic country over the weekend, in an incident Kyiv attributes to possible Russian electronic interference.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, Georgiy Tykhy, clarified on Monday that the drones were not intentionally directed toward Finnish territory.
“Under no circumstances were any Ukrainian drones directed toward Finland.
The most likely cause is interference from Russian electronic warfare systems. We have already apologised to the Finnish side for this incident,” he said.
The drones were discovered near Kouvola, where Finnish authorities confirmed that one landed north of the city and another fell to the east.
In response, Finland deployed an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet to identify the objects, highlighting the seriousness with which the incident was treated.
The development comes amid intensifying aerial exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, with both sides increasingly relying on drone warfare.
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Moscow has continued its nightly barrage of drone strikes on Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv has stepped up retaliatory operations targeting strategic infrastructure.
Ukraine’s recent strikes have included attacks on Russian port facilities along the Gulf of Finland, close to the border with Finland, a member of both the European Union and NATO.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he had discussed the incident with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, describing the exchange as constructive.
“Alex and I see the situation in the same way. We are sharing all necessary information,” Zelensky said, underscoring the cooperation between both countries.
While no casualties or damage have been reported from the drone crashes, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the risks of conflict spillover into neighbouring countries, especially as the war continues to evolve with the use of advanced military technologies.
For residents in southern Finland, the unexpected arrival of foreign drones served as a stark reminder of how far-reaching the consequences of the ongoing war can be, even beyond active combat zones.