A video shared on Facebook purports Finland is deploying F-35s to face the “Russian threat” in the wake of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence Finland has deployed F-35s. Finland’s F-35s will not be combat-ready until 2026, according to media reports.

Fact Check: 

Finland and Sweden asked to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) earlier this year in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Reuters. The Slovakian parliament approved of NATO membership for the two countries, leaving Turkey and Hungary as the only countries yet to approve or disapprove, the outlet reported.

The Facebook video, viewed more than 195,000 times, claims that Finland deployed F-35s to face off “against the Russian threat.”

There is no evidence that Finland has deployed F-35s to face off the Russians. If Finland had deployed F-35s, media outlets would have covered it, yet none have. The Finnish Defense Forces have not released any statements about deploying F-35s to contain any unknown Russian threats.

While Finland has purchased approximately 64 F-35s to replace its current fighter jet fleet, these aircraft will be phased in by 2027, according to Reuters. The Barents Observer reported in May 2022 that the first Finnish F-35s would be based at the Lapland Air Force in Rovaniemi in 2026. (RELATED: Does This Video Show A Russian Boat Blown Up By An Anti-Tank Missile?)