A group of Finnish volunteers narrowly avoided being killed in a Russian drone strike in eastern Ukraine last month, according to an interview given to Yle by the group's leader.
Footage filmed by a Russian drone shows it approaching a parked SUV at high speed before flying directly into the vehicle's rear. Soldiers are seen running from the scene, and the car is soon engulfed in flames.
Two of the soldiers seen escaping the explosion are Finnish. The video was released by Russian sources shortly after the strike, but only two weeks ago did the Finnish volunteer support group Your Finnish Friends confirm that Finns were the target. The group has since launched a fundraiser to replace the destroyed vehicle.
According to "Pekka", the leader of the Finnish group, the lives of the soldiers were saved by the quick reaction of one man.
"One of the Finns noticed the incoming drone and started shouting. Then he began shooting at it. His actions saved the lives of the group members," Pekka told Yle.
Pekka is not the soldier’s real name. Yle has chosen not to reveal his identity for security reasons.
He said the situation was especially difficult due to darkness and the noise of the car's engine, which made it hard to detect the drone.
"Everything was done completely by the book. Our guy had a shotgun in hand and night vision gear. What was surprising was that the drone came in so low," Pekka said.
The soldiers had only seconds to react. One was wounded in the back by shrapnel. According to Pekka, the outcome could have been far worse had the drone struck while everyone was still inside the vehicle.
Growth in drone warfare
The war in Ukraine has become increasingly dominated by drone operations. Ukraine claims that 80 percent of wartime losses are now caused by drones.
Although Ukraine had the early advantage in drone production, Russia has since caught up — and may now be ahead. Pekka said the number of Russian drones on the front line has increased dramatically.
"Russian drone activity has grown by at least 60 percent since two months ago," he said.
Ukraine has reported that over 50,000 Russian troops have gathered near the Sumy region. Russian forces have launched an offensive there and are advancing rapidly. Pekka said that Russian soldiers themselves are not the greatest threat.
"I'm much more afraid of a 1,000-euro fibre-optic drone than a column of Russian tanks. And the forest is full of fibre," he said.
By "fibre", Pekka was referring to Russia's fibre-optic drones, which are resistant to electronic jamming. These drones trail fibre-optic cable as long as 20 kilometres, making them difficult to disrupt. According to Pekka, Russia now has the upper hand in this technology and has used it to inflict serious losses on Ukrainian forces.
"This country will become your grave"
Pekka has fought in Ukraine for over a year, spending most of that time on the front line. He now leads a group made up almost entirely of Finnish fighters.
"I'm trying to make the most professional Finnish unit possible — no alcohol, no drugs. We check criminal records, and if there's anything there, you're not coming," he said.
Pekka said his motivation is to remove experienced Finnish soldiers from the most dangerous positions on the front. He claims to have come close to death many times.
He now discourages new Finnish volunteers from coming to Ukraine.
"I tell them: this country will become your grave, and you'll throw your whole life away. It's not worth it," he said.
According to Pekka, even watching every war film ever made would not prepare someone for the reality of combat.
"The sounds, the smells, the sensations, and the fear. The fear is something you've never experienced before, and it's permanent," he said.
Most Finns who initially want to join his group end up backing out. But Pekka said he believes the best way he can help Ukraine is still on the front line.
