Ukrainian drones entered Estonian and Latvian air spaces from Russia overnight, with one hitting infrastructure and another crashing on land, Tallinn and Riga have said.
One struck the chimney of a power plant in Auvere, Estonia, while another exploded in the southern Kraslava region of Latvia. No major damage or injuries were reported.
The incident occurred around the same time as Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on the Russian port of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, some 25km away from the Estonian border.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed Ust-Luga was attacked in three waves early in the morning. Meanwhile, Baltic air patrols were activated, and notifications regarding a drone threat were sent to local citizens.
Estonia's security police chief, Margo Palloson, stated that the drone that crashed into the chimney deviated from its course possibly due to interference in Russian airspace. Latvian Prime Minister Edgars Rinkevics also confirmed that the drone entering Latvia was of Ukrainian origin.
Following the incident, Latvia's Defence Minister, Andris Spruds, shortened a visit to Ukraine, while Egils Lescinskis, Latvia's deputy chief of the Joint Staff, indicated potential electromagnetic interference caused by Russian defensive measures as a possible explanation for the misdirection of the drone.
Drifting drones can often miss their intended targets due to disruption of their GPS signals, leading to unintended incidents such as this.
When questioned about local safety, Lescinskis acknowledged the uncertainty during active military operations in neighboring nations.
In a broader context, Estonia's police chief emphasized the possibility of more similar incidents arising from the ongoing conflict. The leaders of both countries refrained from attributing blame to Ukraine for the mishaps, citing them instead as consequences of Russia's aggressive actions in the region.
A similar drone incident occurred recently in Lithuania where a Ukrainian drone crashed near the Belarusian border, prompting local authorities to engage in discussions with Ukraine regarding airspace safety.
As the conflict progresses, Ukraine continues to target Russian energy infrastructure, demonstrating the tense dynamics of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Reports indicate that nearly 400 drones were launched towards various Russian territories overnight, further underscoring the escalating intensity of military engagements.
