NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has characterized Russian assertions regarding the potential launch of Ukrainian drones from Latvian territory as absurd. His remarks came during a press conference in Brussels, where he emphasized that both Latvia and Ukraine have denied these allegations.
Rutte stated, “These Russian claims are completely absurd and laughable, and Russia knows this itself.” He addressed the recent incidents involving Ukrainian drones entering NATO airspace, attributing these occurrences to Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine, which escalated significantly after the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Furthermore, Rutte clarified that he does not possess information suggesting that Russia is intentionally redirecting drones from Ukraine towards NATO allies, a claim that has been made by officials in Kyiv.
On May 19, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service accused Latvia of allegedly permitting the launch of Ukrainian drones targeting Russian sites from its territory. In response, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted these claims, while Latvian authorities labeled them as false.
Drone Incidents in the Baltic Region
Earlier drone incidents in the Baltic states have raised concerns. On March 23, a drone, suspected to have originated from Belarus, crashed into Lake Lavišas in Lithuania, located more than 20 kilometers from the border. Lithuanian radar systems failed to detect the drone.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense speculated that the drone was likely Ukrainian, possibly veering off course while targeting objectives in Russia due to electronic warfare interference. Subsequently, Lithuania’s Prime Minister confirmed that the drone was indeed of Ukrainian origin, likely intended for an attack on Primorsk near St. Petersburg.
On March 25, an unidentified drone entered Latvian airspace from Russia and subsequently exploded. Latvian military personnel discovered the wreckage. On the same night, another drone that had strayed off course crashed into a smoke stack at a power plant in Auvēre, Estonia.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur indicated that these drone incidents are linked to Russian aggression against Ukraine, asserting that Kyiv is not to blame. He noted that these events occurred amid attacks on Russian ports.
On May 19, Pevkur announced that Estonian air defense forces had successfully intercepted a drone that had entered Estonian airspace. The drone was shot down over Lake Võrtsjärv in southern Estonia. Pevkur suggested that this drone was likely of Ukrainian origin and was heading towards targets in Russia.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over the incident involving the drone that violated Estonian airspace on May 19, emphasizing that such occurrences are unintentional and stem from Russian actions, which are redirecting Ukrainian drones towards the Baltic states through electronic warfare tactics.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed Russian claims about Ukrainian drones being launched from Latvia as unfounded. This response follows recent incidents involving drones in the Baltic region, which have been attributed to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.