Finnish police investigate 40 drone sightings in southeast Finland – some reports predate first discoveries

Police in southeast Finland have examined around 40 public reports of drone sightings over the past month, with some observations made even before the first downed drones were found, Yle reports.

The first drones discovered in Finland were reported on 29 March, prompting residents to contact emergency services about earlier sightings they believed were connected. According to Juha Hassel, a commissioner with the Southeast Finland Police Department, not all reports have led to active search operations.

Calls to emergency services about drones have since declined since late March and early April.

The Emergency Response Centre Agency has forwarded roughly 40 drone-related reports to police in the region over the past month. However, not every sighting meets the criteria for police involvement, said Taito Vainio, director-general of the agency. Since the first drone was found, emergency centres have received between three and ten daily reports, with about half coming from eastern Finland.

Four Ukrainian-made drones have been recovered in Finland so far, the most recent on 11 April in Iitti. The other three were found in southeast Finland.