Baltic NATO states press Ukraine over escalating drone incursions |
Tensions between Ukraine and several NATO member states bordering Russia have intensified after a series of Ukrainian drone incursions reportedly crossed into the airspace of Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania. The incidents have sparked growing concern among regional governments, with officials now openly urging Kiev to tighten control over its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations amid fears that the conflict could spill beyond Ukraine’s borders.
The latest warning came from Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s defense minister, who said Ukraine must ensure its drones stay away from Estonian territory. His remarks followed several reported crashes and airspace violations involving UAVs believed to be linked to Ukrainian military operations against Russia.
Speaking on May 10, Pevkur stated that Estonia would begin addressing the issue “very quickly now,” emphasizing that Kiev must clarify the circumstances surrounding the incidents and improve operational oversight of its drone missions.
“Certainly, the easiest way for the Ukrainians to keep their drones away from our territory is to control their activities better,” Pevkur said in comments cited by Estonian media outlet ERR.
The remarks mark one of the clearest public criticisms from a NATO country regarding Ukraine’s drone campaign against Russia. Although Baltic governments remain strongly supportive of Kiev in its war with Moscow, the increasing frequency of UAV incidents near NATO territory is creating unease within the alliance.
Earlier this week, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo also expressed concern after speaking with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. According to Orpo, Finland considers any Ukrainian aircraft entering Finnish airspace “unacceptable,” signaling that Helsinki is no longer willing to dismiss such incidents as isolated mistakes.
The growing criticism comes amid reports that several Ukrainian drones........