Finland temporarily restricted maritime and air traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland on Saturday, July 18, implementing precautionary measures in response to a potential drone threat, the Finnish broadcaster Yle reported. The maritime restrictions were enforced from 05:45 a.m. and lifted at approximately 09:00 a.m. local time. The Finnish Defense Forces subsequently confirmed that airspace use in the area was also temporarily restricted during the same timeframe.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to military officials, the restrictions were a preventative measure designed to ensure civilian safety and create operational conditions for potential drone interceptions. The Defense Forces confirmed that no drones crossed into Finnish territory during the incident. As part of the measures, the traffic management company Fintraffic temporarily closed shipping lanes near the southeastern coastal city of Kotka. The Defense Forces concurrently reinforced local air defenses, and residents in the southeastern part of the country reported hearing fighter jets conducting regular airspace patrols. The incident follows a pattern of unidentified aerial activity in the region. In May, an unknown drone was detected in Finland near the Russian border, marking the fifth such incident recorded by local media in recent months. Broader regional tensions and border closures The heightened security measures in the Gulf of Finland occur amid escalating tensions along NATO’s eastern flank and a reduction in diplomatic and transport ties between Russia and its European neighbors.