Finland restricts air traffic and shipping in eastern Gulf of Finland

Finland’s Defence Forces imposed temporary restrictions on aviation and shipping in the eastern Gulf of Finland shortly after 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The military said the precautionary measures aim to protect civilians and ensure that authorities can respond to possible drones. Fintraffic said the sea area off Kotka had been closed. The restricted zone reaches west to Kaunissaari Sound, north to Hamina Harbour, and east and south to the territorial waters boundary.

The restrictions came during a night of reported air threats around the region. Latvia’s armed forces said fighter jets from NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission were scrambled in response to a possible threat in the airspace over Ludza municipality in eastern Latvia, near the Russian border. The Latvian military later said the threat had ended before 3 a.m.

A drone warning was also issued in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said on Telegram. Meanwhile, Russian forces struck Kyiv overnight, according to local authorities, who said four people were injured, including two children, and urged residents to seek shelter.

Air-raid alerts remained active across much of Ukraine early Tuesday. The strikes marked the sixth consecutive day of Russian air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region, disrupting daily life for millions of people.