Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has explained how the country’s armed forces respond to potential violations of its airspace following former Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s call to shoot down Russian military aircraft. The Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported his remarks.

Häkkänen emphasized that Finland has maintained established procedures for responding to threats in its airspace for many years. These procedures require the military to assess each situation individually and apply measures proportionate to the nature of the threat.

According to the defense minister, responsibility for monitoring Finnish airspace rests with the country’s armed forces. Military personnel may use force when necessary, depending on their assessment of the circumstances.

His comments followed an interview Marin gave to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, in which she called for Russian aircraft allegedly violating Finnish airspace to be shot down.

The former prime minister did not provide evidence to substantiate her allegations of Russian airspace violations.

Earlier in the spring, Finnish authorities repeatedly reported the discovery of unmanned aerial vehicles on the country’s territory.

Investigations conducted by Finnish law enforcement agencies identified the drones as Ukrainian in origin.

At least three of the discovered UAVs were carrying unexploded munitions.