Ukrainians in Finland alarmed by fighter jets after stray drones trigger war memories

Ukrainian refugees living in Finland have described their distress after recent incidents involving stray Ukrainian combat drones and the sound of Finnish fighter jets triggered memories of war, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Several Ukrainian drones accidentally entered Finnish airspace in late March, with one discovered in Iitti over the weekend. The events have unsettled Ukrainians in Finland, some of whom experienced panic attacks and feared they might need to flee to safety.

“My neighbour asked if we should grab our passports and children and seek shelter,” said Viktoriia Kulynets, a Ukrainian resident in Hamina. Her neighbour, a refugee from the heavily bombed city of Mariupol, called her in distress after hearing the jets. Kulynets, who has lived in Finland for three years, said the sounds also frightened children, reminding them of the war.

She had only recently adjusted to Finland’s quiet environment after initially reacting strongly to loud noises. “We had finally grown used to the Finnish silence,” she said. Despite the incident, Kulynets expressed gratitude for Finland’s safety and hospitality, though she regretted that the drones had disrupted the country’s peace. “I hope no country would ever need war or combat drones again,” she added.

Expertise in drone technology

Olga Filippova, who fled Kharkiv for Joensuu in March 2022, said she was relieved Finland had not blamed Ukraine for the stray drones. Now chair of Joensuu’s Ukrainian association and a researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, she checks daily for updates on Kharkiv, where attacks continue.

“Every day brings new strikes and deaths. There’s no sign the war will end, but Ukraine’s army gives me hope—they defend the country every single minute,” she said. The constant threat has left her with a deep sense of insecurity, affecting her daily life.

Filippova argued that Ukraine’s growing expertise in drone technology, developed during the war, could benefit all of Europe. “Partner countries should reassess their view of Ukraine. We’re not just aid recipients—we’re an active partner worth collaborating with,” she said.

Fear for relatives back home

Kateryna Bieliaieva, living in Kitee, followed the drone reports closely after one crashed about 30 kilometres from her home. “It’s a bad thing. Finland is a wonderful, safe country, and it’s awful that our drones ended up here,” she said. While she discussed the incident with other Ukrainians in the area, her Finnish neighbours did not bring it up.

Originally from Sumy in northeastern Ukraine—a city attacked in the war’s early days—Bieliaieva described the ongoing danger for her family. “The situation is extremely difficult, and I’m scared. When I call my mother, she often has to run to the basement mid-conversation. Then we wait to see where the next strike will hit,” she said.

All three women expressed sorrow that the drones had disturbed Finland’s peace but remained grateful for the country’s refuge.