Ukrainian combat drones with six-metre wingspans are falling through Finnish forests. Detonators found next to farm tracks. Civilians stumbling across military technology as they walk their land. Welcome to the new normal on the Baltic.

In the past ten days, Finnish authorities found four armed drones on their territory — only one was detected before it came down. The other three simply fell, undetected. Ukraine launched approximately 2,500 drones against Russian oil infrastructure in March alone. At least nine ended up in Finland and the Baltic states.

Defence? Limited.

Finland recently deployed American radar systems, but military representatives admit: we cannot destroy drones over densely populated areas, and the risk of escalation prevents us from directing them toward Russian territory. So armed drones land in Finnish forests, and nobody can — or is allowed to — collect them.

The Baltic states are accusing Russia of allowing Ukrainian drone operations from their territory. Russian oil terminals Ust-Luga and Primorsk have suffered significant damage — analysts estimate losses of around two billion dollars per month. While the world looks toward the Hormuz and Budapest, a quiet escalation is taking place on the Baltic. How long can this go on without an incident?