Finnish schools remain calm after drone incidents as children process events through discussion and play

Schools in Kouvola and Luumäki, southeastern Finland, reported a calm atmosphere on Monday following the discovery of two drones that crashed in the area over the weekend, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

Pupils have discussed the incident with teachers and each other, while some younger children incorporated soldiers into their break-time games—a common way for children to process events, educators said. No signs of panic or fear have been observed.

Discussions and support offered
Both primary and secondary schools in the area provided students with opportunities for guided discussions about the drones, which Finnish authorities confirmed were linked to GPS interference during the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

At Voikkaa School in Kouvola, located roughly 10 kilometres from one crash site, headteacher Heli Valjakka described the mood as “lively” rather than anxious. “The children have wanted to share what they’ve heard from their parents or seen in the news,” she said. Students demonstrated a clear understanding that the incident was not an attack on Finland but a result of technical disruption.

Pekka Hyvärinen, headteacher at Taavetti School in Luumäki—about 20 kilometres from the second drone’s landing site—echoed the sentiment, noting that counselling was available for any student needing it. “If the topic is on a child’s mind, it’s good for adults at home to provide calm, fact-based explanations,” he advised.

Play as processing
Viivi Kapanen, headteacher at Kangasvarre School in Luumäki, observed that while the drones were not a major topic of conversation, younger pupils had begun including soldiers in their imaginative play during recess. “It’s a very typical way for children to work through things they’ve encountered,” she explained. No visible signs of distress were reported among students.

Finnish authorities detonated one of the drones in Kouvola on Sunday as a precautionary measure. Investigations into both devices remain ongoing.