Finnish Defence Forces impose temporary no-fly and maritime exclusion zone off Kotka after drone alerts

Early on Saturday, 18 July 2026, the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) abruptly established a combined air-space and sea exclusion zone over the south-eastern Gulf of Finland, just outside the port city of Kotka. According to the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) EFR1772 and a parallel coast-guard order, all civilian aircraft and vessels were barred from entering the area from 05:45 until 09:00 local time. The restriction covered altitudes from ground level up to flight level 660 and an area stretching from Kaunissaari in the west to the territorial-water boundary in the east, and northwards to Hamina harbour. FDF officials said the move was a precautionary reaction to the heightened risk of stray unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) linked to Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian infrastructure around the eastern Baltic. This is the fourth time in July that the FDF has created a pop-up restricted area over the same stretch of coast. The army, navy and air force have jointly enhanced sensor coverage—supplementing the fixed radar network with mobile short-range units—and placed quick-reaction F/A-18 fighter detachments on higher alert. In a statement, the services stressed that “safeguarding civilian traffic and ensuring freedom of movement for military counter-UAS units” required temporary curbs that can be activated at minutes’ notice. From a global-mobility perspective, the measure had an immediate impact on business aviation and regional carriers operating along Finland’s southern corridor. Several general-aviation flights filed through Helsinki Flight Information Region (FIR) had to reroute around Kotka, adding up to 12 minutes to flight time. Maritime logistics firms serving HaminaKotka—the country’s busiest export port for forest and metal products—reported short delays as pilot launches were held outside the exclusion zone. Fintraffic Air Navigation Services advised operators to “check the latest aeronautical information before departure” because similar pop-up zones could appear throughout the summer. Why now? Finnish security agencies have concluded that the risk of misdirected drones entering Finnish airspace has increased since Ukraine began targeting oil terminals near St Petersburg in June. Although no UAVs have so far crossed into Finland, defence minister Antti Häkkänen told reporters that “credible intelligence” justified the precaution. The ministry has not ruled out deploying counter-drone jamming units at Helsinki Airport if flight-safety thresholds are breached. For multinational companies, the episode is a reminder that the geopolitical ripple effects of the war in Ukraine can disrupt mobility well beyond the immediate combat zone. Travel managers with crews transiting via Helsinki or freight lines sailing the Gulf of Finland should monitor NOTAMs and be prepared for short-notice route changes. Firms with AOG (aircraft-on-ground) support contracts may also wish to update contingency plans for delivering parts to Lapland via ground transport should southern air corridors face longer closures.