Potential drone threat

An unmanned aircraft, commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot on board.

Drones are used in many activities, such as photography and filming, surveying, measurements and hobbies. They also support rescue and search operations, infrastructure inspections and official duties. Their use has also increased in military conflicts. For example, drones can carry out remote strikes or transport explosives.

Read more:
Questions and answers – drone incidents | Finnish Defence Forces (in Finnish and Swedish)

At present, all crashed drones should be treated with caution and reported to the police. Distinguishing between drones designed for military use and those intended for civilian use is challenging for the general public, as they can look very similar.

As a rule of thumb: if you see a drone that is relatively large, comparable in size to a small aircraft, grey or black in colour and operating without lights, it is likely designed for authority or military aviation use. However, it should be noted that authorities also use smaller quadcopter drones for surveillance tasks. (Source: puolustusvoimat.fi/droonit).

Public authorities may issue an emergency warning if there is a threat to life, health or significant property. The authorities publish emergency warnings in the 112 Suomi app, on the radio, on teletext page 112 and, if needed, on television. They also use other channels such as the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s Yle app, the 112.fi, pelastustoimi.fi and yle.fi websites, and the Emergency Response Centre Agency’s Facebook page. The authorities can also warn people by using a public warning siren to sound a public warning signal.

Drones that have strayed into Finland are linked to Ukraine’s defensive action against Russia. This has increased drone activity in areas close to Finland. There is no immediate military threat to Finland at present, but the effects of Russia’s war of aggression are also visible here. Public authorities monitor the situation at all times and have stepped up their efforts to detect and counter drones. They are prepared to alert the public if necessary.

The rescue authorities decide whether to issue an emergency warning, based on threat information provided by the Finnish Defence Forces.

Explosives may cause blasts and flying fragments, so it is important to shelter inside a building. In urban areas, a drone explosion may damage buildings and windows. Debris from broken structures and glass can travel at high speed and pose a danger to people outdoors. In wooded or open terrain, an explosion can throw wood fragments and stones into the surrounding area. Regardless of the environment, the drone itself may produce high-speed metal fragments when it explodes. The dangerous area outdoors may extend for several hundred metres.

In everyday situations, sheltering indoors provides the best protection from high-speed debris. If you are outdoors and see a drone but cannot get indoors, stay low and seek cover in a ditch or other low-lying area.

When an emergency warning has been issued, it is important that you stay indoors, for example in your home, workplace or a shop. You should keep away from windows and external walls.

You usually only need to find shelter for a short time, likely a few hours. Emergency warnings are in force only as long as necessary. You can return to normal activities once the authorities confirm that the danger has passed.

Emergency warnings are published in the 112 Suomi app, on the radio, on teletext page 112 and, if needed, on television. Authorities also use other channels such as the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s Yle app, the websites 112.fi, pelastustoimi.fi and yle.fi, and the Emergency Response Centre Agency’s Facebook page. Or they can use a public warning siren to sound a public warning signal.

Read more: Emergency warnings

An emergency warning about a drone threat is usually issued as a precautionary measure and may cover a wide area. The authorities determine the dangerous area based on an assessment of the situation. The main priority in deciding the dangerous area is to protect people's safety. The authorities cannot predict the drone’s exact route in advance, so it is important to follow the authorities’ instructions.

In Finland, the authority in overall incident command leads communications. The rescue authorities issue the emergency warning about a potential drone threat, based on a threat assessment by the Finnish Defence Forces.

The Finnish Defence Forces, the police, Finnish Border Guard and the rescue department of the relevant wellbeing services county communicate about their operations independently or jointly. Keep checking and following the authorities’ instructions.

During a drone threat, the authorities advise people to go indoors because moving outdoors may not be safe. Explosives may cause blasts and flying fragments, so sheltering inside a building is essential. Take shelter in the building you are in, or in a nearby public building.

Civil defence shelters are often used for storage or as recreational or social spaces. Apartment buildings may use them for residents’ storage, workplaces may use them for staff facilities or storage, and service providers may use them for customers, for example as gyms or car parks. As a result, there may be very little space available for sheltering. Civil defence shelters are activated by order of the authorities and must then be prepared. 

The shelter’s owner or holder may choose to use the shelter for protecting people even if it has not been made ready. However, the space may be cramped due to stored items such as bicycles or residents’ belongings, and the shelter’s equipment may not be available.

If there is a drone threat, only people who have the right to use the building may go to its civil defence shelter. Others need permission from the building owner or holder. The authorities give the order to activate civil defence shelters.

When an emergency warning is issued, follow the instructions and wait patiently for updates. In situations such as a drone threat, it may take time before the authorities can provide more detailed information. However, the authorities are managing the situation at all times.

The aim is always to provide updates as quickly as possible. Emergency warnings remain in force for as short a time as possible to minimise disruption to society. If the situation continues, the authorities may issue a follow‑up warning when they are able to do so.

The purpose of an emergency warning is to give essential instructions for how to act in a dangerous situation and to be as clear as possible.

An emergency warning about a drone threat is usually issued as a precautionary measure and may cover a wide area. The main priority in deciding the dangerous area is to protect people's safety. The situation can change quickly and the authorities cannot predict the drone’s exact route in advance. For these reasons, it is important to follow the authorities’ instructions.

Moving outdoors in the area specified in the emergency warning may be dangerous. It is very important that you avoid going outside and stay indoors whenever possible. Wait until the authorities issue an all-clear message.

If you work in a role that is critical to society and must travel to work, follow your employer’s instructions and procedures. Check with your employer in advance what to do in an emergency.

Civil defence shelters would be activated on the orders of the authorities if there was a threat of war. The shelters will not be activated suddenly.

If there is a drone threat, it is important to go indoors, for example to your home. Explosives may cause blasts and flying fragments, so sheltering inside a building is essential.

Civil defence shelters may have little space because they are often used for storage, for example by residents. However, people who normally use the building may go to the civil defence shelter if they have the right to use it for storage or other purposes.  Others need a permission from the building owner or holder.

Civil defence shelters would be activated on the orders of the authorities if there was a threat of war. The shelters are not activated suddenly.

It may be dangerous to move outdoors in the affected area. For this reason, it is important that you avoid going outside. If you are on public transport, you can leave the vehicle and move indoors, for example at the next stop or station. Wait until the authorities have issued the all-clear before continuing your journey.

The transport operator must make sure the driver knows what to do in the situation. Check with your employer in advance what to do in an emergency.

When the authorities issue an emergency warning, the danger is real. For this reason, it is important that you avoid going outside and go indoors. Wait until the authorities have issued the all-clear. Emergency warnings are in force only as long as necessary. You can return to normal activities once the authorities confirm that the danger has passed.

Moving outdoors in the area specified in the emergency warning may be dangerous. It is very important that you avoid going outside and stay indoors whenever possible. Wait until the authorities issue an all-clear message. The warning remains in force for as short a time as possible. You can return to normal activities once the authorities issue an all-clear.

Moving outdoors in the area specified in the emergency warning may be dangerous. It is very important that you avoid going outside and stay indoors whenever possible. Wait until authorities issue an all-clear message before using public transport.

Check the operator’s website if you need to see how public transport is affected.

Civil defence shelters are designed for wartime use. Finland is not facing an immediate military threat. Shelters are not activated suddenly. The rescue authorities will give the order to make them ready for sheltering. Civil defence shelters must be maintained so that they can be made ready within 72 hours. To ensure this, the building’s emergency plan must include a plan for activating and using the shelter.

During a drone threat, the authorities advise people to go indoors because moving outdoors may not be safe. Explosives may cause blasts and flying fragments, so sheltering inside a building is essential. Take shelter in the building you are in, or in a nearby public building.

According to the authorities, there is no need to prepare a civil defence shelter in advance. However, the building’s emergency plan must include a plan for activating and using the shelter, and the shelter must be properly maintained at all times.

The owner or holder may prepare the shelter for use without an order from the authorities. In practice, this usually means emptying the shelter. This may involve removing other people’s property or disrupting their activities or rights, as the space may be used for storage or rented for other purposes. For this reason, the owner must first check, for example, that they can interrupt the tenant’s use of the premises or move property stored in the shelter, and activate the shelter without disrupting other activities.

During a drone threat, the authorities advise people to go indoors because moving outdoors may not be safe. Explosives may cause blasts and flying fragments, so sheltering inside a building is essential. Take shelter in the building you are in, or in a nearby public building.