Finnish defence forces report suspected drone violation in Virolahti as fighter jet activity surges

Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports that unusual fighter jet activity was observed in southeastern Finland early Wednesday, coinciding with a suspected drone incursion into Finnish airspace near Virolahti.

The Finnish Defence Forces confirmed in a statement that an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is believed to have violated Finland’s airspace in the Virolahti area. Authorities stated the drone is no longer in Finnish airspace but did not provide further details.

Yle journalist Mikko Rita, who was staying on Tammio island in the Hamina archipelago, described hearing multiple fighter jet overflights beginning just after 4 AM, continuing for roughly 90 minutes. Rita also reported two powerful, window-rattling explosions minutes apart, with the first blast particularly intense.

“Two clear, loud blasts, each followed by a pressure wave that shook the cabin windows,” Rita told Yle. The sounds came in quick succession, with aircraft overflights persisting at intervals of five to ten minutes for an extended period.

The observations align with wider regional tensions. Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported overnight drone strikes targeting Russia’s Leningrad region, where local governor Aleksandr Drozdenko described a “massive” UAV attack. Russian state media cited claims that air defences downed around 60 drones, while Reuters reported strikes on the Primorsk oil terminal without resulting spills.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed Sunday that its forces had intercepted 334 Ukrainian drones over 16 regions in a single night. Estonian authorities also issued alerts to residents in Võru and Ida-Viru counties, advising shelter if drones were sighted.

Finnish defence officials have not yet confirmed the reported fighter jet activity.