Finnish Intelligence Warns Drone Incidents Could Erode Public Support for Ukraine

The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) has warned that recurring incidents involving Ukrainian drones entering Finnish airspace risk undermining public support for Ukraine and trust in national authorities. This erosion of confidence could benefit Moscow, which Supo anticipates will exploit the situation through information influence operations. The warning follows an air-raid alert issued across the Uusimaa capital region on May 15, 2026, marking the first such nationwide warning in Finland. Although military authorities later confirmed no actual airspace violations occurred, the alert caused significant disruption, including temporary suspension of operations at Helsinki Airport. Supo notes that stray drones and potential damage could emotionally weaken Finnish support for Ukraine and cast doubt on the effectiveness of government responses. The agency considers further incursions likely as long as the war continues, citing six previous incidents in spring 2026 where Ukrainian strike drones headed toward Russian Baltic ports entered Finnish airspace. Officials defended the decision to issue the warning, emphasizing that the risks were real. Similar alerts were issued in bordering Latvian regions, though no drones entered Latvian territory. The report highlights the complex geopolitical implications of collateral security incidents in neighboring countries.