Ukrainian drones in Finland raise questions over explosives and insurance coverage

Two drones crashed in southeastern Finland on Sunday, prompting public concern over their origins, potential explosives, and insurance implications, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle. Authorities have confirmed one drone was detonated in a controlled explosion, while investigations into the second continue.

Finnish police initially reported both drones fell in Kouvola, but later clarified that one crashed in Luumäki. A separate incident in Espoo involved a small civilian drone falling into the sea, with no criminal suspicion attached.

Central Criminal Police confirmed Monday that one drone—found north of Kouvola with an unexploded warhead—was destroyed in a controlled detonation. The second drone, which landed between two lakes in Luumäki, caused no damage, and authorities have not confirmed whether it exploded. Former Finnish Defence Forces research director Jyri Kosola previously suggested one drone may have detonated on impact.

Identifying foreign drones is difficult, Kosola noted, as military aircraft should carry national markings, though not all comply. “If it’s a small dot in the sky with sunlight behind it, spotting markings is nearly impossible,” he said. Even militaries struggle: in Ukraine, a third of downed drones reportedly belong to their own forces.

Explosive risks and operational questions

Kosola, who observed Russian drones over Kyiv in November, described varied outcomes: some explode midair, others hit the ground before detonating. “If shot down near the surface, the blast pressure accelerates shrapnel to extreme speeds, penetrating protective gear and skin,” he explained. “But if detonated at a distance, the pressure effect is far weaker.”

The explosive payload of these drones equals roughly ten 155mm artillery shells, potentially causing severe damage within a 150-meter radius. Fragment size also affects destruction—smaller pieces accelerate faster, while larger ones travel farther.

Experts suggest the drones likely entered Finland via Belarus, where air defence systems are less robust than in Russia. Sweden’s Lieutenant Colonel Johan Huovinen previously told Dagens Nyheter that Ukraine’s drones may navigate using Belarusian mobile networks, which remain operational unlike Russia’s.

If a drone loses contact with its operator, Kosola said it should follow pre-programmed waypoints or select alternate targets—not simply continue flying until crashing, as appeared to happen Sunday. He speculated the drones may have been damaged.

While theoretically possible for an adversary to “hijack” a drone, Kosola dismissed the idea in practice, citing heavily encrypted communications. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry later apologised to Finland for the incursion, attributing it to likely Russian electronic interference.

Finnish police, border guards, and defence forces continue to investigate the Luumäki crash site.