Finland on July 24, 2026 closed its airspace and restricted maritime traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland after Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russian military positions in the St. Petersburg region. Restrictions were lifted roughly four hours later with no damage or injuries reported. This closure follows a similar pattern of incidents in 2026, including an almost identical restriction on July 18 and a three-hour shutdown of Helsinki Airport in May. A suspected AN-196 drone also crashed near Kouvola in late March carrying an unexploded warhead. A NATO member since April 2023, Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, the longest of any NATO ally.
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