Finland says Baltic Sea cruises remain safe despite a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian warship in the Gulf of Finland, with Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen reassuring the public that civilian shipping can continue operating in the region.
Häkkänen said Finland had contacted Ukraine over the attack, stressing the importance of protecting civilian vessels and the marine environment in the narrow stretch of water between Finland and Estonia.
“We have told the Ukrainians this time, and a little earlier too, how sensitive this narrow stretch of the Gulf of Finland, right between us and Estonia, is in terms of environmental safety and the safety of civilian shipping,” Häkkänen said.
Ukraine reported that it had struck a Russian missile ship with a drone in the Gulf of Finland overnight on Wednesday. The reported attack took place near Gogland, an island known as Suursaari in Finland. Finland’s Defence Forces confirmed to Yle on Thursday that a Russian warship had been struck by Ukraine.
The incident came amid increased drone activity over the Gulf of Finland. One drone is suspected of having entered Finnish airspace, raising concerns about the potential effects of the conflict on neighbouring countries. Ukraine also targeted Russia’s oil port of Ust-Luga, located at the eastern end of the Gulf of Finland.
The developments have drawn attention to the security of one of the Baltic Sea’s important maritime corridors, which is used by passenger ferries, cruise ships and commercial vessels travelling between countries in the region.
Despite the latest military activity, Häkkänen said Finland and NATO have sufficient systems to detect potential attacks and protect Finnish territory. He maintained that the situation does not prevent people from travelling across the Baltic Sea.
The Defence Minister specifically sought to reassure people planning leisure trips and seasonal celebrations on passenger ships, including the popular pre-Christmas party cruises organised during the festive season.
“You can still cruise with peace of mind,” he said.
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Häkkänen also stressed that the security situation in the region must be understood in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. He described the wider consequences for neighbouring countries as spillover effects from Ukraine’s defensive fight against Russia’s invasion.
His comments come as travellers and ferry passengers continue to monitor developments in the Baltic Sea region. While military incidents near major shipping routes remain a concern for authorities, Finland’s current public message is that civilian maritime travel can continue and that the country’s security systems remain in place.
The minister’s comments are particularly relevant for Finland’s ferry and cruise industry, which connects the country with destinations including Estonia and Sweden. However, his reassurance should be understood as an assessment of the current security situation, rather than a guarantee that military developments cannot affect maritime traffic.
The Finnish Defence Forces have also taken precautionary measures in the eastern Gulf of Finland following the drone activity, including temporary restrictions on maritime areas and airspace.
