{"id":1943464,"date":"2026-05-19T14:42:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1943464"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:42:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T11:42:25","slug":"nato-fighter-jet-downs-stray-ukrainian-drone-over-estonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1943464","title":{"rendered":"NATO fighter jet downs stray Ukrainian drone over Estonia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/36\/15\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_c3993903-7773-58c0-b8d7-ff09474da2e9-9361516.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2894895-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2894895\" data-cid=\"9764212\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894895-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/42\/12\/189x106_cmsv2_cdb0a73d-1677-5c99-af9c-00042d89497e-9764212.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A night-time photo showing the Vega-C rocket, equipped with SMILE, from a launchpad. It is surrounded by four metal pylons and clouds of smoke\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    ESA\u2013China SMILE mission launches to study Earth\u2019s magnetic shield\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894912-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2894912\" data-cid=\"9764286\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894912-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/42\/86\/189x106_cmsv2_7a67d4f6-eeb0-522d-9a03-bd401f7ac317-9764286.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Beer consumption overtakes wine for the first time in France\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Food and Drink<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Caber-nay: Beer consumption tops wine for the first time in France\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2893385-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2893385\" data-cid=\"9760327\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2893385-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/68\/31\/189x106_cmsv2_8ef55119-48a3-5496-91ed-6d03dee92088-9756831.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Film poster\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zurita de Oliveira, mother of Portuguese rock, gets a documentary film\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894867-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2894867\" data-cid=\"9764058\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894867-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/40\/58\/189x106_cmsv2_dab6d632-07fd-516c-afdb-43c431205465-9764058.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An aerial view of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, in 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lawmakers raise alarm over legality of US lethal drug boat strikes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894895-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2894895\" data-cid=\"9764212\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894895-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/42\/12\/189x106_cmsv2_cdb0a73d-1677-5c99-af9c-00042d89497e-9764212.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A night-time photo showing the Vega-C rocket, equipped with SMILE, from a launchpad. It is surrounded by four metal pylons and clouds of smoke\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    ESA\u2013China SMILE mission launches to study Earth\u2019s magnetic shield\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894912-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2894912\" data-cid=\"9764286\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894912-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/42\/86\/189x106_cmsv2_7a67d4f6-eeb0-522d-9a03-bd401f7ac317-9764286.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Beer consumption overtakes wine for the first time in France\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Food and Drink<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Caber-nay: Beer consumption tops wine for the first time in France\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2893385-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2893385\" data-cid=\"9760327\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2893385-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/68\/31\/189x106_cmsv2_8ef55119-48a3-5496-91ed-6d03dee92088-9756831.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Film poster\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zurita de Oliveira, mother of Portuguese rock, gets a documentary film\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894867-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2894867\" data-cid=\"9764058\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894867-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/40\/58\/189x106_cmsv2_dab6d632-07fd-516c-afdb-43c431205465-9764058.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An aerial view of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, in 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lawmakers raise alarm over legality of US lethal drug boat strikes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            NATO fighter jet downs stray Ukrainian drone over Estonia<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/36\/15\/16\/1536x864_cmsv2_c3993903-7773-58c0-b8d7-ff09474da2e9-9361516.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"FILE: F16 jets of the Romanian Air perform a fly-by at the Black Sea, Defence, Aerospace and Security (BSDA) international exhibition in Bucharest, Romania, May 22, 2024.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              FILE: F16 jets of the Romanian Air perform a fly-by at the Black Sea, Defence, Aerospace and Security (BSDA) international exhibition in Bucharest, Romania, May 22, 2024.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo\/Vadim Ghirda<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\/Vadim Ghirda\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspSasha Vakulina\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1779201745\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-05-19 16:42:25 +02:00\">19\/05\/2026 &#8211; 16:42 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-partage-commentaire-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"partage-commentaire-popup-content-container\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__container u-display-flex\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"facebook\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"facebook\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"twitter\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"twitter\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"flipboard\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Flipboard<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"flipboard\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"send\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Send<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"send\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"reddit\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Reddit<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"reddit\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"linkedin\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Linkedin<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"linkedin\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"messenger\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Messenger<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"messenger\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"telegram\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Telegram<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"telegram\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        For the first time, a NATO fighter jet shot down what is believed to have been a stray Ukrainian drone over the Baltic country.  Ukraine apologised for the \u201cunintended incident\u201d, while Russia threatened retaliation.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>An F-16 fighter jet deployed with NATO air policing forces in the Baltics shot down what is believed to have been a stray Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia on Tuesday<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said that, given the drone\u2019s trajectory, \u201cwe decided that we needed to take it down\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost probably, today we can say that it was a drone that was, let\u2019s say, meant to hit Russian targets.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said experts from Ukraine and Estonia were working on measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe apologise to Estonia and all our Baltic friends for such unintended incidents. We have been and remain in close cooperation through our specialised institutions to get to the heart of the matter in each case and seek ways to prevent them, including through the direct engagement of our expert groups.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tykhyi also claimed that Russia was deliberately redirecting Ukrainian drones into the Baltics using electronic warfare.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMoscow does this on purpose, together with intensified propaganda.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u201cIntensified propaganda\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Russia\u2019s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement on Tuesday that Ukraine was preparing to launch drone attacks against Russia from the territory of the Baltic states and threatened \u201cretaliation\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow claimed that Riga had agreed to let Kyiv launch drones from Latvian territory \u201cdespite fears of becoming a target for retaliatory strikes by Moscow\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe primitive Russophobia of Latvia\u2019s current rulers proved stronger than their capacity for critical thinking or their sense of self-preservation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Both Latvia and Ukraine denied the claims, calling them \u201cyet another disinformation campaign\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Latvian Prime Minister Evika Sili\u0146a said Riga had \u201cnever given Ukraine permission to use its territory or airspace for defensive strikes against Russia or any other country\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have explained this many times on the international stage. Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine has every right to defend itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Latvia\u2019s government collapsed after the prime minister resigned following the defence minister\u2019s departure over the handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to have come from Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>His party subsequently withdrew its support for the coalition.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Ministry added that \u201ccontrary to Russian propaganda claims, neither Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania nor Finland has ever allowed the use of its airspace for strikes against Russia. Furthermore, Ukraine has never requested such permission.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUkraine exercises its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Our legitimate military targets are located in Russia, and we use Russian airspace to reach them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The spokesperson also said that Moscow had \u201cno right to blame Ukraine, the Baltic states or Finland for the consequences of its actions and, more broadly, its war of aggression\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2>Russian threats against the Baltics<\/h2>\n<p>Moscow has repeatedly threatened Latvia and other Baltic states with what the Kremlin calls \u201cretaliatory strikes\u201d over Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia.<\/p>\n<p>The SVR now claims that \u201cdespite Latvia\u2019s fears of becoming a target of a retaliatory strike by Moscow, the authorities in Kyiv convinced Riga to agree to the operation\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow also claims that servicemen from the Ukrainian Armed Forces\u2019 Unmanned Systems Forces \u201chave already been deployed to Latvia\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne can only pity the naivety of Latvia\u2019s leaders,\u201d Russia\u2019s Foreign Intelligence Service said on Tuesday, issuing a thinly veiled threat to Riga.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is worth recalling that the coordinates of decision-making centres on Latvian territory are well known, and the country\u2019s NATO membership will not protect those who aid terrorists from just retribution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly threatened what it calls \u201cdecision-making centres\u201d in Ukraine using similar language.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian forces were preparing new missile and drone strikes against what the Kremlin described as \u201cdecision-making centres\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmong these are nearly two dozen political centres and military command posts,\u201d Zelenskyy said on 15 May.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Drone fallout rocks Latvia and fragile US\u2013China reset<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Ex-defence minister admits Latvia faces security &#8216;questions&#8217; but no silver bullet to stop drones<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Drones from Russian airspace hit Estonian and Latvian territory, authorities say<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  air defence system<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Latvia<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  War in Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2894793-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894793\" data-cid=\"9763682\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894793-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/36\/82\/320x180_cmsv2_282557f2-6f5c-5574-a07a-6e2e197672ea-9763682.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"IRGC parade\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europol disrupts thousands of IRGC online accounts across 19 countries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2894703-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894703\" data-cid=\"9763165\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894703-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/31\/65\/320x180_cmsv2_d39c210f-e127-5ba9-a044-7061203679e0-9763165.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping during a walk at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing, China, Sept. 2, 2025.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Washington or Moscow: China\u2019s Xi Jinping hosts Putin after Trump visit<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2894867-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894867\" data-cid=\"9764058\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894867-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/40\/58\/320x180_cmsv2_dab6d632-07fd-516c-afdb-43c431205465-9764058.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An aerial view of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, in 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lawmakers raise alarm over legality of US lethal drug boat strikes<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2894796-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894796\" data-cid=\"9763719\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894796-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/37\/19\/320x180_cmsv2_78f03d53-e29a-5fea-b009-72206301fa9f-9763719.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Isak Andic, owner of Mango, and his son, Jonathan Andic.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Money, love and murder: the Mango founder case that shocked Spain<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2894581-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894581\" data-cid=\"9762490\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894581-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/24\/90\/320x180_cmsv2_84c15298-9906-51eb-b232-52b87db7ee8b-9762490.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Europeans to appoint a special envoy.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Risks, pitfalls, snubs: EU envoy for Russia talks faces job from hell<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2894793-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894793\" data-cid=\"9763682\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europol disrupts thousands of IRGC online accounts across 19 countries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2894627-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894627\" data-cid=\"9762762\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran sets up Hormuz transit authority to charge ships for passage<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2893969-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2893969\" data-cid=\"9759994\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Poland\u2019s hydrogen buses confront high fuel costs, new report claims<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2894796-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894796\" data-cid=\"9763719\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Money, love and murder: the Mango founder case that shocked Spain<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2894416-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894416\" data-cid=\"9761748\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe\u2019s poverty divide: Which cities and regions are most at risk?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894793-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894793\" data-cid=\"9763682\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894793-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/36\/82\/320x180_cmsv2_282557f2-6f5c-5574-a07a-6e2e197672ea-9763682.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"IRGC parade\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europol disrupts thousands of IRGC online accounts across 19 countries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894703-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894703\" data-cid=\"9763165\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894703-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/31\/65\/320x180_cmsv2_d39c210f-e127-5ba9-a044-7061203679e0-9763165.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping during a walk at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing, China, Sept. 2, 2025.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Washington or Moscow: China\u2019s Xi Jinping hosts Putin after Trump visit<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894867-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894867\" data-cid=\"9764058\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894867-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/40\/58\/320x180_cmsv2_dab6d632-07fd-516c-afdb-43c431205465-9764058.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An aerial view of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, in 2022.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lawmakers raise alarm over legality of US lethal drug boat strikes<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894796-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894796\" data-cid=\"9763719\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894796-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/37\/19\/320x180_cmsv2_78f03d53-e29a-5fea-b009-72206301fa9f-9763719.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Isak Andic, owner of Mango, and his son, Jonathan Andic.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Money, love and murder: the Mango founder case that shocked Spain<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894581-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894581\" data-cid=\"9762490\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2894581-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/24\/90\/320x180_cmsv2_84c15298-9906-51eb-b232-52b87db7ee8b-9762490.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Europeans to appoint a special envoy.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Risks, pitfalls, snubs: EU envoy for Russia talks faces job from hell<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894793-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894793\" data-cid=\"9763682\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europol disrupts thousands of IRGC online accounts across 19 countries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894627-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894627\" data-cid=\"9762762\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran sets up Hormuz transit authority to charge ships for passage<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2893969-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2893969\" data-cid=\"9759994\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Poland\u2019s hydrogen buses confront high fuel costs, new report claims<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894796-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894796\" data-cid=\"9763719\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Money, love and murder: the Mango founder case that shocked Spain<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2894416-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2894416\" data-cid=\"9761748\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe\u2019s poverty divide: Which cities and regions are most at risk?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">An F-16 fighter jet deployed with NATO air policing forces in the Baltics shot down what is believed to have been a stray Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia on TuesdayEstonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said that, given the drone\u2019s trajectory, \u201cwe decided that we needed to take it down\u201d.\u201cMost probably, today we can say that it was a drone that was, let\u2019s say, meant to hit Russian targets.\u201dUkrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said experts from Ukraine and Estonia were working on measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.\u201cWe apologise to Estonia and all our Baltic friends for such unintended incidents. We have been and remain in close cooperation through our specialised institutions to get to the heart of the matter in each case and seek ways to prevent them, including through the direct engagement of our expert groups.\u201dTykhyi also claimed that Russia was deliberately redirecting Ukrainian drones into the Baltics using electronic warfare.\u201cMoscow does this on purpose, together with intensified propaganda.\u201d\u201cIntensified propaganda\u201dRussia\u2019s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement on Tuesday that Ukraine was preparing to launch drone attacks against Russia from the territory of the Baltic states and threatened \u201cretaliation\u201d.Moscow claimed that Riga had agreed to let Kyiv launch drones from Latvian territory \u201cdespite fears of becoming a target for retaliatory strikes by Moscow\u201d.\u201cThe primitive Russophobia of Latvia\u2019s current rulers proved stronger than their capacity for critical thinking or their sense of self-preservation.\u201dBoth Latvia and Ukraine denied the claims, calling them \u201cyet another disinformation campaign\u201d.Latvian Prime Minister Evika Sili\u0146a said Riga had \u201cnever given Ukraine permission to use its territory or airspace for defensive strikes against Russia or any other country\u201d.\u201cWe have explained this many times on the international stage. Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine has every right to defend itself.\u201dLast week, Latvia\u2019s government collapsed after the prime minister resigned following the defence minister\u2019s departure over the handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to have come from Ukraine.His party subsequently withdrew its support for the coalition.A spokesperson for Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Ministry added that \u201ccontrary to Russian propaganda claims, neither Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania nor Finland has ever allowed the use of its airspace for strikes against Russia. Furthermore, Ukraine has never requested such permission.\u201d\u201cUkraine exercises its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Our legitimate military targets are located in Russia, and we use Russian airspace to reach them.\u201dThe spokesperson also said that Moscow had \u201cno right to blame Ukraine, the Baltic states or Finland for the consequences of its actions and, more broadly, its war of aggression\u201d.Russian threats against the BalticsMoscow has repeatedly threatened Latvia and other Baltic states with what the Kremlin calls \u201cretaliatory strikes\u201d over Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia.The SVR now claims that \u201cdespite Latvia\u2019s fears of becoming a target of a retaliatory strike by Moscow, the authorities in Kyiv convinced Riga to agree to the operation\u201d.Moscow also claims that servicemen from the Ukrainian Armed Forces\u2019 Unmanned Systems Forces \u201chave already been deployed to Latvia\u201d.\u201cOne can only pity the naivety of Latvia\u2019s leaders,\u201d Russia\u2019s Foreign Intelligence Service said on Tuesday, issuing a thinly veiled threat to Riga.\u201cIt is worth recalling that the coordinates of decision-making centres on Latvian territory are well known, and the country\u2019s NATO membership will not protect those who aid terrorists from just retribution.\u201dSince the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly threatened what it calls \u201cdecision-making centres\u201d in Ukraine using similar language.Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian forces were preparing new missile and drone strikes against what the Kremlin described as \u201cdecision-making centres\u201d.\u201cAmong these are nearly two dozen political centres and military command posts,\u201d Zelenskyy said on 15 May.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/05\/19\/nato-fighter-jet-downs-stray-ukrainian-drone-over-estonia&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/36\/15\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_c3993903-7773-58c0-b8d7-ff09474da2e9-9361516.jpg&#8221;] Tech News ESA\u2013China SMILE mission launches to study Earth\u2019s magnetic shield Food and Drink Caber-nay: Beer consumption tops wine for the first time in France Culture news Zurita de Oliveira, mother of Portuguese rock, gets a documentary film USA Lawmakers raise alarm over legality of US lethal drug boat strikes Tech News [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1943464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1943464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1943464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1943464\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1943464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1943464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1943464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}