Latvia and Lithuania issue drone alert, scramble NATO fighter jets
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An aircraft flying over a village in Latvia's Ludza district, after the Latvian military said a drone had entered the country's airspace, on May 17. Latvia said on May 21 it had detected at least one drone flying in the country’s airspace.
PHOTO: REUTERS
RIGA/VILNIUS - Lithuania and Latvia each detected drones in their airspace on May 21 and urged some inhabitants to seek shelter while NATO fighter jets scrambled to intercept the devices, the latest in a series of such security incidents in the Baltics.
In Lithuania, military jets were searching for two drones, the country’s military said, while air raid sirens were blaring in a county bordering Russian ally Belarus to alert civilians to the danger.
Earlier, in a separate incident, the Latvian armed forces reported a drone had entered the country’s airspace. They later said the threat had ended, without providing further detail.
Ukraine has in recent months stepped up its long-range drone attacks on Russia, including in the Baltic Sea area, where several Ukrainian military drones have strayed into the airspace of NATO members Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Kyiv has apologised for incursions and blamed Russian jamming of guidance signals for misdirecting its drones across borders.
Moscow says Ukraine is using NATO airspace to provide cover for its attacks on Russia, which Kyiv, NATO and the Baltic states strongly deny.
“As long as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine continues, there is a possibility of repeated incidents where foreign unmanned aerial vehicles enter or approach Latvian airspace,” the Latvian armed forces wrote on social media platform X.
One drone was confirmed to have crossed into Latvia from Belarus, a military spokesperson told broadcaster Latvian Television.
The Latvian government resigned last week over its handling of the incursions, and talks are ongoing on appointing a new Cabinet.
On May 19, a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over neighbouring Estonia, while a similar airspace violation in Lithuania on May 20 halted air traffic to its capital and forced its lawmakers to take shelter underground.
“They (Ukraine) certainly don’t want their drones to end up on friendly territory for obvious reasons,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on May 21.
“Sometimes it’s a matter of jamming. Sometimes it’s a matter of other disturbances,” he told a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Mr Rutte on May 21 reiterated the alliance’s commitment to the security of all NATO countries.
“We will continue to ensure that we have all we need to defend every inch of Allied territory,” he wrote on social media platform X.
The Baltic states, all strong backers of Ukraine, have blamed the incidents on Moscow, saying it redirects Ukrainian drones from their intended targets in Russia, without providing evidence.
The Kremlin said on May 20 it was monitoring the situation.
Poland’s defence minister on May 21 said Ukraine must be very precise when using drones to avoid giving Russia the opportunity to interfere with their flight path.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on May 20 said that Russian threats to the Baltic countries were “unacceptable” and would be seen as threats to the whole European Union. REUTERS
