The Finnish Defence Forces suspended air and sea traffic in the south-east of the country for several hours due to a drone attack by Ukraine against the Russian oil port of Ust-Luga.
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11/11/2026
by
Lusa
Afinnish Defence Forces today suspended air and sea traffic in the south-east of the country for several hours due to a drone attack by Ukraine against the Russian oil port of Ust-Luga.
“The Defence Forces established a temporary restriction zone in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland at 2:09 a.m. (00:09 in Lisbon), and in the maritime zone at 02:15 a.m. (00:15),” the Finnish Army reported on social network X.
“ This is a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of civilians and the capacity of authorities to combat possible drone attacks,” the Defense Forces added.
The temporary closure of Finnish airspace — the second in less than a month — lasted just over five hours and was suspended at 07:20 (05:20 in Lisbon).
According to the Russian authorities, the Ukrainian attack caused a fire at the Russian oil terminal in Ust-Luga, after the impact of several drones, and caused the temporary closure of Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg.
Due to this closure, two flights to Saint Petersburg from Turkey and Egypt were diverted and forced to land at Helsinki airport, from which they were able to continue their journey later, the Finnish Coast Guard said.
Finland has been forced to restrict air and sea traffic on several occasions in recent months due to the frequent drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian targets in Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region — including the oil ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga.
Throughout this year, Finland and other Ukraine's allied countries in the region have reported several incidents where Ukrainian drones have mistakenly invaded their airspace during these attacks, and they need to be shot down or their fall in their territory.
Russia launched a large-scale offensive in Ukraine on 24 February 2022.