Finland will conduct anti-drone exercises near the border with Russia
The Finnish Air Force will conduct special exercises to repel drone attacks in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, as well as in the Kymenlaakso and South Karelia regions, which border Russia.
This was reported by Yle.
The maneuvers will take place on May 27–28 during daylight hours. F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and MD500 army helicopters will be involved in the exercises, serving as simulated enemy drones.
Live ammunition is not planned to be used during the exercises.
Due to the exercises, temporary restrictions will be imposed in the airspace of the regions, particularly regarding the operation of civilian drones.
It is also reported that these Air Force exercises will take place separately from large-scale military maneuvers in southeastern Finland, in which about 13,000 Navy and Army personnel are participating. The military exercises will last until Friday.
The increased focus on the drone threat in Finland is linked to a series of incidents in recent months. In late March and early April, four drones that had flown into the country’s airspace crashed in the cities of Kouvola, Iitti, Luumäki, and Parikkala.
In addition, in mid-May, a warning was issued in the Uusimaa region regarding the potential appearance of a drone in Finnish airspace.
Russia has launched large-scale nuclear exercises to demonstrate its strength to Ukraine’s allies, increase pressure on NATO, and divert attention from its own failures on the front lines. This is the conclusion reached by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation officially announced the start of large-scale military exercises involving strategic nuclear forces, which will take place from May 19 to 21, 2026.
