Finnish police investigate suspected explosive-carrying drone near Russian border

Finnish authorities have cordoned off an area in southeastern Finland after discovering a drone on the ice of Lake Pyhäjärvi in Parikkala, near the Russian border, Iltalehti reports.

Deputy police chief Pekka Koistinen of the Southeast Finland Police Department confirmed the drone was found Tuesday afternoon. Nearby residences were evacuated as a precaution while police examine the device, though no immediate threat to bystanders has been reported.

Koistinen stated that investigators are working to determine whether the drone was carrying explosives, its origin, and when it crashed. No further details have been released.

The discovery follows an incident two days prior, when two armed Ukrainian drones crashed in the same region. Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Georgij Tykhyj acknowledged the earlier incident, attributing it to Russian electronic warfare interference. He stressed that Ukraine had not intentionally targeted Finnish territory and issued an apology to Finnish authorities.

It remains unconfirmed whether Tuesday’s drone is linked to the earlier Ukrainian devices or carries explosive material.