Ukrainian soldiers prepare a drone attack (archive image).Image: www.imago-images.de
Ukrainian drones are said to have been diverted to NATO countries by Russian jamming technology. Concern about political consequences is growing in the Baltic states.
May 26, 2026, 3:05 p.mMay 26, 2026, 3:05 p.m
Russia is said to be using Ukrainian drone strikes to stoke tensions between Kiev and its closest NATO allies. This is reported by the news portal “Kyiv Independent”.
Accordingly, Moscow has begun to redirect Ukrainian long-range drones using electronic jamming measures – including towards Finland, Latvia and Estonia. Several Baltic government officials and public voices warned that further incidents could weaken support for Ukraine in countries that have been Kiev’s most important allies. The incidents are increasingly causing political unrest there.
Incidents in Finland, Latvia and Estonia
The first major incident occurred in Finland at the end of March. Several drones crashed there, at least one of which is said to have been of Ukrainian origin. Kyiv officially apologized for the incident. A few weeks later, drones from Russia again entered Latvia’s airspace. One of them crashed near an oil depot in the border town of Rezekne.
Estonia was also affected. There, on May 19, a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonian territory for the first time. Other similar incidents followed in the following days.
Concern for support for Kyiv
Ukrainian representatives accuse Russia of deliberately redirecting the drones towards NATO territory using electronic warfare. The aim is therefore to stir up mistrust towards Ukraine and weaken the support of Western partners. According to the report, the incidents were accompanied by Russian propaganda.
Former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves told the Kyiv Independent that repeated drone incidents could gradually damage public attitudes towards Ukraine. Nobody wants to have drones over their own territory, said Ilves.
He also referred to the government crisis in Latvia: Prime Minister Evika Siliņa blamed Defense Minister Andris Sprūds for the downed drones, whereupon he resigned. The dispute over his successor led to the breakup of the coalition; Siliņa then announced her resignation on May 14.
Ukraine is causing increasing problems for Russia with its counterattacks – but politicians from NATO countries are warning about misguided drones.Image: www.imago-images.de
Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur also urged Kiev to be more careful. Estonia has publicly called on Ukraine to tighten control over its drones in order to avoid political upheavals among allies. There is no reason to jeopardize Estonians’ support for Ukraine, said Pevkur.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also made unusually clear statements. Ukraine must be more precise so as not to give rise to Russian provocations. The territory of Poland must not be violated or threatened.
“Things like this shouldn’t happen”
At the same time, representatives of the Baltic states emphasize that Russia bears responsibility for the situation. Jonatan Vseviov, State Secretary in the Estonian Foreign Ministry, told the Kyiv Independent that the incidents were ultimately caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
“Such things shouldn’t happen, shouldn’t happen, don’t have to happen,” he said, adding that the only real solution was to end Russia’s war.
Kiev also announced closer cooperation with Finland and the Baltic states to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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