Finland deploys reservists for first time after drone airspace incursions

Finland has deployed reservists for the first time to assist in monitoring its territorial integrity following incidents involving combat drones that entered Finnish airspace.

Finnish authorities said that four drones were detected in the country’s south-east, with officials suggesting they may have entered Finnish airspace during Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian targets in the Gulf of Finland area. Some of the drones are believed to have crashed either on Finnish territory or into the sea, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

In response, the Finnish armed forces have decided to deploy reservists for border monitoring duties, describing the move as a training exercise. This marks the first such deployment in the country’s history.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen confirmed that the measure represents a new form of reserve activation, although specific details of the mission have not been disclosed.

Authorities said the security environment can change rapidly, adding that air and maritime surveillance is being strengthened through additional resources.

By Sabina Mammadli