Helsinki curbs navigation in Gulf of Finland after drone strike reports

Finland has imposed temporary restrictions on maritime traffic and airspace in the eastern Gulf of Finland, citing security concerns linked to recent drone strikes on northwestern Russia, the country’s defence forces said.

“The Finnish Defence Forces introduced temporary restriction zones for aviation and maritime navigation in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland early on Saturday morning,” the defence ministry said in a statement published on the social media platform X.

The measures were described by officials as precautionary. According to the communications department of the Finnish General Staff, the restrictions were introduced “as a precautionary measure in connection with drone strikes on Russia.”

Finnish authorities said they had also increased monitoring of the area. “For this reason, we have intensified aerial surveillance in order, if necessary, to ensure the safety of people and conditions for the activities of the authorities,” General Staff representative Jere Paldanius told Helsingin Sanomat.

Earlier, Finland’s air force had been scrambled overnight as drone attacks targeted northwestern regions of Russia, prompting heightened alert measures in the border region.

By Tamilla Hasanova