Mysterious incursions in the Baltic region: alerts heighten vigilance within NATO
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia issued a series of alerts on Wednesday urging residents to take shelter from unidentified drones approaching from Russia or Belarus. The warnings came amid intensifying attacks between Moscow and Kyiv, as the repercussions of the war drew closer to NATO countries’ borders.
Media reports and officials said alerts were activated in all three countries while fighter jets operating as part of NATO’s air-defence arrangements were mobilised. No injuries were reported. In Lithuania, one alert covered Kaunas, the country’s second-largest city, with a population of around 300,000.
Separately, the Finnish Defence Forces announced temporary restrictions on airspace and maritime areas in the eastern Gulf of Finland before subsequently lifting them. They said the precautionary measure was intended to ensure that the authorities could operate effectively and to protect people in the area.
The alerts coincided with Ukrainian drone attacks on northwestern Russia, home to major Baltic Sea oil export facilities and a large refinery. Reports indicated that a fire broke out in the Ust-Luga port area and three people were injured.
Russian media also quoted the governor of the Smolensk region, which borders Belarus, as saying that drone debris had killed two people.
In Ukraine, an overnight Russian air attack caused power outages in parts of the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih, according to officials and emergency services. One person was also injured in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, and six others in Zaporizhzhia.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports. Both Moscow and Kyiv deny deliberately targeting civilians in the war, which has continued since February 2022.
Fears of the war’s repercussions spreading
Incursions by Ukrainian military drones into the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have raised concerns about the conflict’s repercussions spreading to NATO countries bordering Russia and Belarus.
These developments have coincided with Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil export ports on the Baltic Sea. Some drones have veered off course, triggering security alerts in neighbouring countries. According to the report, these incidents also contributed to the collapse of Latvia’s government earlier this year.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of using NATO countries’ airspace as cover for its attacks. Ukraine says Russian jamming of drone navigation signals has caused some aircraft to stray from their routes. Alliance members hold Russia responsible for these developments, pointing out that it started the war.
Abu Dhabi talks amid the escalation
The developments coincide with two days of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi. The discussions began on Tuesday as part of a renewed US effort to reach a settlement ending the war.
US President Donald Trump said an agreement to end the conflict was close and would have implications for Europe as a whole.
