Ukraine apologises to Finland over drone incident – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi has said that Ukraine is in contact with Finland regarding drone-related incidents.

Tykhyi said in comments to journalists that Ukraine is sharing all necessary information to clarify the circumstances surrounding several drones that violated airspace in south-eastern Finland on Sunday 29 March.

"We can state unequivocally that no Ukrainian drones were directed towards Finland under any circumstances. The most likely cause is jamming by Russian electronic warfare systems. We have already apologised to the Finnish side for this incident," he said.

Tykhyi added that the Foreign Ministry shares Finland's view that "the cause of both this incident and the broader security challenges in our region is Russia's aggression against Ukraine".

It is noted that the Finnish Air Force identified one of the objects that violated the country's airspace on Sunday afternoon as a Ukrainian An-196 Liutyi drone.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that the drones that crashed on Finnish territory on Sunday afternoon were likely Ukrainian, as Ukraine had been attacking Russian targets in Russia's Leningrad Oblast, which borders Finland.

It later became known that Finland's parliamentary defence committee will hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday 31 March, to discuss current defence issues, including the drone incidents.