A NATO military jet shot down a drone believed to have entered Estonian airspace from Ukraine. The Defence Minister said advance information from Latvia and radar detection showed the drone moving into southern Estonia, prompting activation of airspace security measures. A Baltic Air Policing fighter jet downed the drone, and officials are searching for it to ensure it does not threaten anyone. The minister said he spoke with Ukraine’s Defence Minister to clarify that Estonia has not granted permission for attacks using its airspace. The incident follows repeated drone incursions into Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia since March, with Kyiv saying drones were intended for military targets in Russia but were confused by interference. Some drones have crashed, including one that ignited a fire at a Latvian oil storage facility on May 7.
"We received advance information from our Latvian colleagues, and our radar also detected a drone moving into southern Estonia. We activated the necessary measures, and a Baltic Air Policing fighter jet shot the drone down."
"He also spoke with Ukraine's Defence Minister immediately after the incident to clarify that Estonia has not granted permission for the use of its airspace to carry out attacks."
"Since March, several stray Ukrainian drones have entered the airspace of NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, which border Russia and its ally Belarus. Kyiv has consistently maintained that the stray drones were launched to strike military targets in Russia but were confused by Russian interference."
"The Baltic states stated in April that they have never allowed their territories and airspace to be used for drone attacks against targets in Russia. The Estonian government recently hinted that it expects Ukraine to better control its drones."
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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