Ukraine has issued an apology to Finland after two drones crashed in the southern part of the country, stating that they were likely knocked off course due to Russian interference.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, Georgiy Tykhy, described the incident as accidental, stressing that the drones were never intended to enter Finnish territory. He explained that disruption from Russian electronic warfare systems was the most probable cause and confirmed that Ukraine had formally apologised to Finland.
The drones reportedly landed near Kouvola, prompting Finnish authorities to respond by deploying a fighter jet to assess the situation. According to Finland’s Defence Ministry, one drone came down north of Kouvola, while the other landed east of the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed the incident with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, noting that both leaders share the same understanding of the situation and are exchanging relevant information.
The incident comes amid intensifying drone activity between Ukraine and Russia, with both sides increasingly relying on unmanned systems in cross-border operations. Finnish officials confirmed that an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet was dispatched on an identification mission as authorities continue to monitor developments.
