Finnish authorities urge event organizers to prepare for drone threats

Finland’s Interior Ministry has advised large public events to prepare for potential drone threats, following recent incidents of stray military drones entering Finnish airspace.

At the Savonlinna Opera Festival, held at Olavinlinna Castle, audiences would be directed indoors in the event of a drone alert, as the open-air seating area is not classified as an indoor space, according to festival production chief Jukka Pohjolainen. The evacuation plan was developed in coordination with rescue authorities, the National Museum of Finland, and festival staff.

While Finnish law does not mandate drone preparedness, the current security environment makes it necessary, said Mika Lehestö, project manager at the ministry’s rescue department. Authorities issued a nationwide drone alert on May 15 after a suspected military drone was detected in Uusimaa.

Other major events, including the Jukola relay in June and this week’s WRC Rally Finland in Jyväskylä, have also incorporated drone risk assessments into their safety plans. However, Rally Finland’s competition director Kai Tarkiainen noted that no specific drone alert protocol was established, as Central Finland is considered lower risk compared to areas near the eastern border.

In Savonlinna, organizers have long conducted emergency evacuation drills, with the castle’s 2,000-seat audience and over 100 performers able to clear the venue in 15 minutes. A dedicated drone alert drill with the audience has not yet been tested.