Finland detects unidentified drone near Russian border

An unidentified drone was suspected of violating Finland’s airspace in Virolahti, near its border with Russia, early on Sunday, the defence ministry said.

Finland’s air force spotted the drone in the early hours, said a ministry statement.

“The model and origin of the drone have not been identified,” it said, adding that the drone was no longer in Finnish airspace.

The Finnish border guard said it was investigating the incident, providing no other information.

Finland has a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia.

Russia’s defence ministry said on Sunday that military air defence units intercepted 334 Ukrainian drones during the night across about 15 regions, some close to Saint Petersburg, around 150 kilometres from Virolahti.

In March, Ukraine apologised to Helsinki after two Ukrainian drones crashed in southern Finland, likely knocked off course by Russian interference.