Finnish authorities continued the investigation into the incidents of two stary drones crashed in Kouvola in southeastern Finland on Sunday morning, said an official press release on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian authorities apologised to Finland for the drones’ crashes, local media reported, quoting a representative of Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
According to the representative, the drones were not targeting Finland under any circumstances, reported national broadcaster Yle.
The representative also said that the drones ended up in Finnish territory likely due to electronic signal interference by Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday held a telephone conversation with President Alexander Stubb and discussed the issue.
“Of course, we also discussed the drone incident that recently took place on Finnish territory. Alex and I see the situation in the same way. We are sharing all necessary information,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on his social media platform X.
Zelenskyy added that he also briefed Stubb on the meetings and negotiations in the Middle East and the Gulf region that he had in recent days.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continued the criminal investigation while South-East Finland Police Department maintains cordoned around the landing sites of the two drones (unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that came down north of Kouvola and in Luumäki on Sunday, said police in a press release.
One of the two drones was rendered safe by means of a controlled explosion late Sunday night. The explosion was carried out because the UAV, which had come down north of Kouvola, was assessed in a preliminary evaluation by the authorities to have explosives attached.
Investigations into the incidents are continuing, with the relevant authorities working in close collaboration. Finnish Defence Forces executive assistance detachments have been supporting the police operation.
All but two of the persons evacuated from the area were able to return to their homes for the night, according to Detective Superintendent Jukka Lankinen of South-East Finland Police Department.
In Luumäki, police and the Border Guard have been examining the site and its surroundings over the past two days. The authorities are investigating whether the drone had exploded on impact. Debris from the drone has been found scattered across the area around the landing site and the search for further debris continued on Monday as a joint operation by the authorities.
“The criminal investigation is progressing as the landing scenes are made safe for work and as UAV parts are recovered and examined. At the same time, police are conducting tactical investigations, including the interviewing of witnesses. As the investigation progresses, the origin of the devices will also be established,” said Risto Lohi, Detective Chief Superintendent of the NBI.
The National Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case as grossly negligent endangerment.
The Finnish Border Guard is responsible for the investigation into the territorial violation.
The NBI and the Finnish Border Guard have agreed to establish a joint investigation team to investigate the case.
“Finnish Border Guard continues to investigate the territorial violation. For example, searches are being conducted in the lakes near the landing sites to locate further parts of the UAVs,” said Ilja Iljin, Deputy Commander of the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District.
Two drones crashed in Kouvola in southeastern Finland after entering into Finnish airspace in the morning on March 29.
Earlier, the Finnish Defence Forces intensified surveillance measures to ensure territorial integrity when Ukraine carried out attacks against Russian targets in the eastern Gulf of Finland.
- Drone
- Finland
- Ukraine
- Apologises
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
