Overview
- Allied forces shot down a drone over Estonia on 19 May, with a Romanian F-16 on NATO Baltic Air Policing duty confirming the interception.
- Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on 22 May that Russia is deliberately guiding Ukrainian long‑range drones into NATO airspace to sow discord and reduce support for Kyiv.
- The foreign ministers of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries issued a joint statement condemning Russian and Belarusian disinformation and reaffirmed political, military and financial support for Ukraine's right to self‑defence.
- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry apologised for the 'unintended incidents' involving stray drones, and Baltic officials have publicly rejected Moscow's claims that their airspace was used to launch strikes on Russia.
- Officials say Russian electronic‑warfare systems can jam or spoof satellite navigation signals and thereby misdirect drones, which has caused air‑raid alerts, temporary flight suspensions and renewed calls for higher defence spending and stronger NATO deterrence ahead of the Ankara summit.