Finland will not yield to efforts to destabilize itself or Europe through drone activities and other so-called “hybrid” assaults, stated Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen in an interview with AFP on Tuesday.
The Nordic nation shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, which has been linked to multiple drone incursions and violations of airspace over various European countries—a claim that Russia has denied.
Since September 22, sightings of unidentified drones in Finland’s neighboring countries, Norway and Denmark, particularly near military installations, have led to the closure of several airports and heightened worries regarding the security and readiness of Europe.
European authorities have categorized these drone movements as hybrid attacks, which refer to a type of unconventional warfare.
According to Hakkanen, Helsinki is adopting a “very calm approach” amid rising speculation about potential future actions.
“No drones can intimidate us. Their purpose is to induce confusion, fear, and societal unrest,” Hakkanen noted.
He emphasized that there is currently “no direct evidence” linking Russia to the drone sightings, but affirmed that “Russia is engaging in various forms of hybrid influence.”
“We understand that Russia has a distinct intention to disrupt the West through these drones,” Hakkanen remarked.
Following the incursions, NATO has implemented “enhanced vigilance” in the Baltic region, while the EU has unveiled plans for a “drone wall.”
“We are actively collaborating with NATO’s Eastern Sentry defense operation and the EU initiative for a drone wall to establish security measures for Finland’s section of the NATO-Russia and EU-Russia borders against drones,” Hakkanen explained.
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson, who met with Hakkanen in Helsinki on Tuesday, expressed to AFP that the current security landscape in Europe is “serious.”
“We are observing a trend where Russia is assuming greater political and military risks,” he stated.
Finland and Sweden both became members of NATO following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In mid-December 2023, Finland closed its eastern border with Russia after approximately 1,000 migrants entered without visas.
Helsinki has accused Russia of orchestrating this surge as a tactic of hybrid warfare—a claim that the Kremlin has refuted.
Since joining NATO, both Finland and Sweden have significantly increased their military investments and preparedness.
