# Finnish Army commander meets Ukrainian front-line and drone commanders

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders
- Published: 2026-09-28
- Author: Daniel Trangeled
- Type: News · Country: finland
- Language: en (original)
- Also available in: de (https://nordicdefencesector.com/de/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), dk (https://nordicdefencesector.com/dk/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), es (https://nordicdefencesector.com/es/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), fi (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fi/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), fr (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fr/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), it (https://nordicdefencesector.com/it/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), no (https://nordicdefencesector.com/no/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), pl (https://nordicdefencesector.com/pl/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md), sv (https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/finnish-army-commander-meets-ukrainian-front-line-and-drone-commanders.md)
- Primary source: https://maavoimat.fi/en/-/commander-of-the-army-visited-ukraine
- Tags: finland, ukraina, pasi välimäki, finnish army, drone, alexander stubb, unmanned systems command, ukrainian ground forces, 3rd army corps, 233rd training centre, operation vivaldi, mykhailo drapatyi, ukraine armed forces, finland-ukraine drone cooperation agreement

> Finnish Army Commander Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki visited Ukraine on 20–25 September, meeting front-line and drone commanders to discuss battlefield changes, troop training, and counter-drone defence following the new Finland-Ukraine drone cooperation agreement. He was awarded Ukraine's Order of Merit, 2nd class, by Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.

![Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, accompanied by a group of delegates, in Ukraine on 20-25 September 2026.](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/12b1f606-1210-4cd5-faff-d38733542500/public)
*Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, accompanied by a group of delegates, in Ukraine on 20-25 September 2026. · The Armed Forces of Ukraine*

**Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, Commander of the Finnish Army, made a [working visit](https://maavoimat.fi/en/-/commander-of-the-army-visited-ukraine) to Ukraine on 20–25 September. He met front-line commanders, the leadership of the Ukrainian Ground Forces and Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Command.**

— It has been important for me to visit Ukrainian front-line commanders and discuss the changes on the battlefield, the success factors and the challenges, so that our own work fits the ongoing change, Välimäki told the Finnish Army.

He met the commander of the 3rd Army Corps and was briefed on the structure and situation of OP VIVALDI. Välimäki said they discussed troop training and how to create the conditions for using mechanised forces successfully.

He also visited the 233rd Training Centre. Välimäki said working with the centre had helped the Finnish Army start training on armed drones and develop its tactical combat course.

At the Unmanned Systems Command, talks covered layered counter-drone defence and the new bilateral drone deal, [previously reported](https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/finland-and-ukraine-sign-drone-cooperation-agreement) by NDS. Presidents Alexander Stubb and Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the [agreement](https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/236553176/finland-and-ukraine-sign-drone-deal-to-boost-their-defence-and-security-cooperation) in New York on 23 September. It covers technology transfer and joint drone development and production.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, awarded Välimäki the Order of Merit, 2nd class.

## FAQ

**When did Finnish Army Commander Pasi Välimäki visit Ukraine and who did he meet?**

Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki visited Ukraine on 20–25 September, meeting front-line commanders, the Ukrainian Ground Forces leadership, the 3rd Army Corps commander, the 233rd Training Centre, and Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Command. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

**What did Välimäki discuss with Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Command?**

At the Unmanned Systems Command, talks covered layered counter-drone defence and the new bilateral drone deal signed by Presidents Stubb and Zelenskyy on 23 September, which covers technology transfer and joint drone development and production between Finland and Ukraine. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

**Which honour did Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief award to Välimäki?**

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief, Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, awarded Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki the Order of Merit, 2nd class, recognising his working visit and engagement with Ukrainian front-line and drone commanders during the September trip. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

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