Unidentified drones were detected in Finland and Lithuania in recent days, raising new concerns about the security of critical infrastructure and air travel in the region.
According to Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT, the State Public Security Service recorded three unauthorized drone flights near Vilnius Airport on September 26.
The incidents disrupted seven flights—four departures were delayed, and three arrivals landed later than scheduled. LRT noted that in previous cases, drone activity forced aircraft to divert to alternative airports.
In Finland, Yle reported that a passerby spotted a drone flying over the Valajaskoski hydropower plant near Rovaniemi last week and alerted police.
Authorities confirmed the incident but declined to disclose details, citing an ongoing investigation. The company operating the facility, Kemijoki Oy, said its surveillance systems did not capture the drone’s operator.
Yle underlined that since August 2025, all power plants in Finland have been designated as no-fly zones for drones due to the risk they pose to energy infrastructure. Despite these restrictions, the incident demonstrated that violations remain possible.
These developments follow a series of similar reports across Northern Europe. On the night of September 26, unidentified drones were observed over Sweden’s Karlskrona archipelago, close to a naval base, according to Swedish media. Days earlier, on September 23, unknown drones forced a temporary shutdown at Oslo Airport in Norway.
On September 22, Copenhagen Airport also briefly suspended operations after drone sightings. Around the same period, several major European airports—including London, Brussels, and Berlin—experienced disruptions linked to a cyberattack on systems responsible for passenger check-in and boarding.
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