"You can still cruise" — Häkkänen says Baltic Sea cruises remain safe

Ukraine struck a Russian missile ship earlier this week about 40km from the Finnish coast. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) says Finland has been in contact with Kyiv over the strike on a Russian warship near Gogland. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle Finland has contacted Ukraine over its strike on a Russian warship, according to Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP). "We have told the Ukrainians this time, and a little earlier too, how sensitive this narrow stretch of the Gulf of Finland, right between us and Estonia, is in terms of environmental safety and the safety of civilian shipping," he said. Ukraine reported that it had hit a Russian missile ship with a drone in the Gulf of Finland, near the island of Gogland (known as Suursaari in Finnish), overnight on Wednesday. Finland's Defence Forces confirmed to Yle on Thursday that Ukraine had struck a Russian warship. The attack followed heavy drone activity over the Gulf of Finland, and one drone is suspected of having violated Finnish airspace. Ukraine also struck the Russian oil port of Ust-Luga at the eastern end of the gulf. Häkkänen insists Finland and Nato have 'sufficient systems' to detect attacks and protect their own territory. Despite the strikes, Häkkänen said he considers the Baltic Sea still safe, and people can confidently head out on it, even on a pre-Christmas party cruise. "You can still cruise with peace of mind," he said. Häkkänen reminded the public that the spillover effects in the surrounding region stem from Ukraine's defensive fight and Russia's war of aggression.