Stray drones in Finland identified as different model than first thought, NBI confirms

While uncertainty remains about the exact type, the National Bureau of Investigation says the devices were smaller and able to carry less explosives than the AN-196.

Police and rescue vehicles parked on a gravel road next to a shed, with trees in the background. — The fourth, most recent drone discovery was made on Saturday in a forest in Iitti, a municipality about 140 kilometres northeast of Helsinki. Image: Antro Valo / Yle

Yle News

13.4. 14:59

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed that the military drones recently found in southeastern Finland are a different, smaller type than previously thought.

NBI also confirmed to Yle that all four of the drones that have been discovered so far came from Ukraine, which has been using UAVs to attack Russian oil ports along the Gulf of Finland.

3-D illustration of a AN-196 LJUTYI drone, with text indicating Wingspan: 6.7 m Length: 4.4 m Weight: 250-300 kg. — An illustration of the AN-196, which authorities initially thought was the type of drone that have entered Finnish territory. Image: Yle

It was previously thought the devices found in Finland were AN-196 drones. While uncertainty remains about the exact model, the agency said the devices were smaller and able to carry less explosives than the AN-196.

The NBI said it is possible that more stray drones could still be found in Finnish territory.

The fourth, most recent drone discovery was made over the weekend in a forest in Iitti, a municipality about 140 kilometres northeast of Helsinki.