Russia warned Finland about drone found off Porvoo

Russia told Finland in advance that a mapping drone had escaped from its civilian authorities, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said on Friday, according to Yle. The drone was found off Porvoo on Tuesday.

A bystander found the aircraft in shoreline rocks in the Pellinki archipelago, an area with many holiday homes. It posed no danger to the public and was not carrying explosives.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said the discovery was being investigated as a possible territorial violation. The Border Guard and police are handling the investigation.

Two official sources told Yle on Thursday that a preliminary investigation indicated the drone was Russian. On Friday morning, the Border Guard assessed that it was Russian-made and said it may have drifted ashore in the water.

The Border Guard is also investigating where, when and how the drone entered Finnish territory. Based on an initial external inspection, it appears to be an unmanned aircraft of the Geoscan 701 type.

Mikko Hyppönen, research director at Sensofusion, said the aircraft was a Russian-made mapping drone that has also been used on the front line in Ukraine.

President Alexander Stubb later told Svenska Yle that Finland and its people faced no threat.