Ukrainian Drones Intrude into Estonia and Latvia, Causing Minor Damage

Wed Mar 25 2026 17:09:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Stray Ukrainian drones have made their way into Estonian and Latvian territories, leading to limited infrastructure damage without reported injuries. The incidents coincide with heightened drone activity in the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian drones have been reported to have crossed into Estonian and Latvian airspace, resulting in damage to a power plant's chimney in Estonia and an explosion in Latvia. This comes during a coordinated attack on Russian targets, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region. Officials confirmed no major injuries were reported despite the incidents.

Ukrainian drones entered Estonian and Latvian air spaces from Russia overnight, with one hitting infrastructure and another crashing on land, according to statements from authorities in Tallinn and Riga.

One drone struck the chimney of a power plant in Auvere, Estonia, while another exploded in the southern Kraslava region of Latvia. Fortunately, no major damage or injuries were reported.

The incidents occurred alongside Ukraine's mass drone attack on the Russian port of Ust-Luga, located about 25km from the Estonian border. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal reported that Ust-Luga was attacked in three waves between 03:00 and 08:00 local time. As a precaution, Baltic air patrols were activated, and residents received alerts about a potential drone threat.

Estonia's security police chief, Margo Palloson, indicated that a Ukrainian drone had deviated from its path possibly due to interference in Russian airspace. Latvian Prime Minister Edgars Rinkevics confirmed the origin of the drone impacting Latvia as Ukrainian.

In response to the situation, Latvia's Defence Minister, Andris Spruds, cut short a visit to Ukraine to address the incident back home. Officials suggested that the drone encountered issues possibly due to electromagnetic defenses around important facilities.

Palloson warned that similar incidents could occur in the future, while Prime Minister Michal emphasized the futility of trying to secure the border with Russia. Recent events have heightened concerns around safety as military operations nearby continue.

Additionally, a similar drone mishap was reported in Lithuania earlier in the week, again highlighting the complexity and unpredictability of current drone warfare conditions.

This series of incidents reflects the broader context of escalating military actions, with hundreds of drones being launched by both Ukraine and Russia in rapid succession over recent days.