Estonia has called on Ukraine to strengthen its oversight of drones after several incidents involving unauthorized airspace breaches in the Baltic region. The Estonian government expressed support for Ukraine’s right to strike Russian targets but emphasized the importance of minimizing risks to NATO territories.
In recent months, multiple drones, believed to be launched during attacks on Russian sites in the Baltic Sea area, have entered the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. This prompted officials in Tallinn to seek improved control measures from Ukraine.
On Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced that Kyiv is considering sending experts to the region to enhance the security of allied airspace and prevent future incidents. Discussions between Estonian and Ukrainian officials regarding this issue have already taken place.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that the government expects Ukraine to take greater responsibility for its drone operations. He remarked,
“The simplest way for Ukrainians to keep their drones away from our territory is to better manage their activities.”
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna reiterated the country’s support for Ukraine’s self-defense rights but voiced concerns about the potential for more serious incidents. He highlighted the risk that Russia could intercept or redirect Ukrainian drones towards NATO nations.
According to Estonian authorities, several drones violated the country’s airspace in March. One drone crashed into the chimney of the Auvere power plant, located approximately two kilometers from the Russian border. Another drone later crashed in Tartu County, with debris from others found along the Baltic Sea coast.
Estonian and Ukrainian officials are also exploring technical solutions to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Possible measures include altering drone flight paths and implementing automatic self-destruction systems that activate if a drone deviates from its intended course.
On March 23, a drone, believed to have originated from Belarus, entered Lithuania and exploded over Lake Lavisas, more than 20 kilometers from the border. Lithuanian radars did not detect it.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense speculated that this drone was Ukrainian, potentially diverted from its target in Russia due to electronic warfare. Subsequently, the Lithuanian Prime Minister confirmed it was indeed a Ukrainian drone, likely one aimed at striking Primorsk near St. Petersburg.
On March 25, an unidentified drone, which had entered Latvia from Russia, crashed and exploded, as confirmed by Latvian military officials. That same night, a drone that had strayed off course crashed into the smoke stack of the Auvere power plant in Estonia.
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that the drone incidents in the Baltic states are linked to Russian aggression against Ukraine and do not reflect any fault on Kyiv’s part. He noted that these events have occurred amid ongoing attacks on Russian ports.
Estonia has urged Ukraine to improve its drone management following several airspace violations in the Baltic region. Officials are concerned about the risks posed to NATO territories and are discussing potential solutions to prevent future incidents.