Ukraine strikes Olenya military airbase in Russia’s Kola Peninsula raising concerns for Finland

Last week, Ukraine launched drone attacks on Olenya military airbase in Russia’s Kola Peninsula, marking the first instance of strikes extending to the Arctic region. Ukraine’s military leaders noted that Olenya has been a launching point for numerous Russian airstrikes targeting civilian areas in Ukraine, located 1,800 kilometers away. Engineering Lieutenant Colonel Mika Nieminen from the National Defence University stated that while the distance is considerable, it is not impossible for Ukraine to have domestically produced long-range drones capable of carrying significant payloads.

These payloads could be several kilograms or potentially tens of kilograms of explosives. Nieminen suggested that drones for such missions would need a fixed-wing configuration similar to a “swallow,” with a slim profile and efficient jet engine. He highlighted the innovative progress in Ukrainian drone production.

Ukrainian military authorities reported that the strikes over the weekend destroyed a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber and targeted two other military airfields as well as an oil refinery, although Russia has not commented on these attacks.

President Alexander Stubb has remarked that Finland must accept the reality of war at its borders and understand Ukraine’s use of diverse tactics to secure victory. The journey of drones across enemy territory poses significant risks, emphasizing the need for precise intelligence on Russian air defenses.

Moreover, it is speculated that some drones may have been launched from outside Ukraine, suggesting a role for special operations forces. The Olenya military base is less than 200 kilometers from Finland’s eastern border, raising questions about potential Ukrainian drone flights through Finnish airspace.

During the conflict, Ukraine has conducted hundreds of drone attacks targeting not only military bases but also oil facilities on the Russian side. As the technology races forward, Ukraine aims to produce one million drones this year, and the significance of drones, alongside emerging artificial intelligence applications, is expected to grow significantly.