Finnish security service warns drone incidents could undermine public support for Ukraine

The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) has warned that stray Ukrainian drones entering Finnish airspace may erode public trust in authorities and weaken support for Ukraine, according to a statement to national broadcaster Yle.

Supo assesses that while the drones do not pose a significant threat to Finland’s critical infrastructure, their presence could fuel public anxiety and lead to broader questioning of Finland’s commitment to aiding Ukraine in its defence against Russia.

“It is entirely possible that drones will continue to stray into Finland as long as Ukraine’s defence operations persist,” Supo stated, noting that such incidents heighten regional tensions in the Baltic Sea area.

The agency emphasised that Russia could exploit the situation for information influence operations, amplifying public unease to its advantage. “Using emotional responses in information warfare is a well-established tactic,” Supo said.

At least four Ukrainian drones have entered Finnish territory this spring. On Friday, authorities issued warnings—later deemed unnecessary—about potential drone activity in the Uusimaa region, urging residents to seek shelter indoors. The incident exposed flaws in emergency alert systems, with the official 112 Suomi app failing to function properly.

Supo acknowledged that while stray drones do not significantly elevate risks to critical infrastructure, they may increase public reports of suspicious activity due to heightened awareness from media coverage.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has denied accusations of overreaction, while emergency services have apologised for technical failures in risk communication.