Finnish officials have rejected calls from a marginal political figure known for promoting Kremlin propaganda narratives to restrict Ukraine’s use of airspace for drone attacks against Russian targets. The government in Helsinki has instead reaffirmed its steadfast support for Kyiv’s right to self-defence following isolated incidents where Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles deviated into Finnish territory.
Propaganda figure’s demands
Armando Mema, a politician from the fringe Alliance Freedom party with negligible domestic recognition, has urged the Finnish government to prohibit Ukrainian drones from transiting Finnish airspace. He claimed such operations pose a direct national security threat by potentially provoking Russian retaliation, including air defence activity over Finnish territory. Mema has consistently been utilised as a voice for pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives aimed at undermining Western support for Ukraine.
Investigation reveals orchestrated campaigns
Investigative reports by Postimees and The Insider in November 2025 and March 2026 revealed Mema operates as a paid conduit for disseminating Russian disinformation under the guise of a Finnish political perspective. These publications documented how he is used to legitimise Kremlin-friendly talking points on Russia-controlled media platforms, despite being virtually unknown within Finland’s mainstream political discourse and absent from coverage by national media outlets.
Technical causes of airspace incidents
The limited instances of Ukrainian drones entering Finnish airspace are attributed primarily to Russian electronic warfare systems diverting the unmanned aircraft from their intended courses. Defence analysts note these are isolated, non-systematic occurrences for which Russia bears full responsibility, given its ongoing full-scale aggression against Ukraine and its deployment of radio-electronic combat capabilities that interfere with drone navigation.
Helsinki’s measured response
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen explicitly stated Helsinki would not demand Ukraine cease or limit attacks on Russian oil sector or military targets. “Ukraine has the right to defend itself. We are not making any demands regarding the targets it chooses in Russia,” Valtonen affirmed. President Alexander Stubb acknowledged Ukrainian drones were involved in the March-April incidents but emphasised they presented no direct military threat to Finland, underscoring the government’s calm and allied posture.
Broader security context
Security experts identify Russia’s aggressive expansionist policy as the primary threat to European and Finnish security, rather than Ukrainian drone operations. Ukraine employs unmanned systems as a precise and effective means to strike Russian oil refining capacity, which generates export revenue funding Moscow’s war effort. Under the UN Charter and laws of armed conflict, Ukraine’s use of strike drones constitutes a legitimate right to self-defence, permitting military action to be extended onto the territory of the aggressor state.
