Finland's defence minister: we must be constantly ready to shoot down drones

Finland's Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen warned that Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian strategic targets may continue to pose a threat to Finnish airspace. With important Russian military facilities located near the border, drone incursions into Finnish territory cannot be ruled out.

Finland's Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen warned that Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian strategic targets pose an ongoing threat to Finnish airspace. With important military facilities located near the Russian border, it is likely that Ukraine will continue to attack them with drones, increasing the risk that some unmanned vehicles may stray into Finnish airspace.

According to Häkkänen, Finland must be prepared to shoot down such drones at any time. The minister stressed that this is not an isolated incident but a systemic threat that the nation's defence forces must be able to respond to on a regular basis.

Since joining NATO in 2023, Finland has strengthened its air defence and developed close cooperation with allies. Border security issues have become particularly pressing, as Finland shares a border with Russia spanning over 1,300 kilometres, the EU's longest land border.

According to experts, Ukraine's drone war has become significantly more complex and multi-layered, reaching ever further from the battlefield. This sets new demands on the air security of neighbouring countries, which must ensure the protection of their territorial integrity.