Brussels: The European Commission has placed responsibility on Russia for an incident involving Ukrainian drones that flew over Finnish airspace. The incident has raised concerns about airspace security and the ongoing tensions in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper stated during a midday press briefing that Russia is the primary party responsible for the drones crossing into an EU member state's airspace. She emphasized that such incidents would not occur without Russia's involvement. The issue is expected to be a topic of discussion at the informal EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Ukraine, where the EU plans to reiterate its support for Kyiv and its commitment to Ukraine's security and defense.

In response to the incident, spokesperson Thomas Regnier mentioned that EU member states have already begun enhancing their counter-drone systems, with the EU prepared to assist in these efforts. This comes after Finland's Defense Ministry reported sightings of at least two unmanned aerial vehicles in the southeastern part of the country. One of these drones, identified as Ukrainian, crashed near Kouvola after being identified by the Finnish Air Force.

The situation prompted the deployment of Finnish F/A-18 fighter jets to investigate the objects. However, no engagement was made to avoid potential collateral damage. Discussions between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Finland's President Alexander Stubb revealed that both leaders share a mutual understanding of the situation.