Finland has urged Zelenskyy to exercise greater caution regarding drones

During a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Yerevan, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo pointed out to him that the intrusion of drones into Finnish airspace is unacceptable. The statement came following an incident on the morning of May 3, when two Ukrainian drones allegedly violated the Finnish border.

Orpo reported this in a comment to Yle.

The head of the Finnish government noted that Helsinki firmly supports Ukraine and its right to defend itself against Russian aggression, but called for greater caution during combat operations. According to the prime minister, the government has reliable information about the nighttime events, and such incidents are always considered serious violations of maritime and air law. Orpo expressed hope that following the negotiations, the Ukrainian side would take measures to ensure that similar situations do not recur in the future.

Finland currently possesses all the necessary means to monitor and protect its airspace, and these capabilities will be significantly strengthened in the near future. During their dialogue, Zelenskyy and Orpo also addressed issues of military aid and the region’s security architecture amid threats from Russia. Despite the critical remark regarding the drones, the Finnish side confirmed its readiness to continue its strategic partnership with Kyiv. Thus, the incident did not affect the overall course of support for Ukraine but underscored the importance of respecting the borders of NATO member states.

Earlier reports indicated that, as a result of a joint operation by Ukrainian special services and various branches of the military, a Russian Karakurt-class missile boat—which carries Kalibr cruise missiles—was successfully struck in the port of Primorsk, Leningrad Oblast. In addition to it, a patrol boat and a tanker belonging to the Russian Federation’s shadow oil fleet were damaged. The attack took place on the night of May 3.