Finland reports Ukrainian drone swarm of up to 2,500 near its territory

The Finnish Defence Forces have confirmed that Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack involving up to 2,500 unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Finland’s borders, with three stray drones entering Finnish airspace. The operation was part of a series of Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian oil ports in the Gulf of Finland in recent days, Yle reports.

Finnish military authorities stated that Russia’s air defences have been on high alert due to the attacks, with St. Petersburg’s airspace repeatedly closed to civilian traffic. Finland’s own air surveillance has been reinforced with mobile short-range radars in addition to its fixed network, while air defence readiness has been increased by deploying army helicopters and naval vessels capable of anti-aircraft operations.

Under peacetime conditions, fighter jets remain the primary means of intercepting drones, according to the Defence Forces. The recent escalation follows Ukraine’s intensified campaign against Russian energy infrastructure in the Baltic region.