Overview
- Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) published on May 19 a statement saying it knows the “coordinates of decision‑making centers” in Latvia and warning NATO membership will not shield the country from “retribution.”
- Latvian authorities rejected the SVR claims as false and Kyiv denied deploying drone units to Latvian bases while offering technical assistance to help investigate the incidents.
- Estonian air‑defence forces shot down a drone over Võrtsjärv that officials said was likely of Ukrainian origin and heading toward targets in Russia, a development confirmed by Estonia’s prime minister and defence minister.
- Latvia raised air‑defence readiness in border districts, deployed extra units and saw NATO fighters scrambled to patrol the Baltic airspace after several recent drone incursions and crashes in Latvia and Estonia.
- Analysts and regional ministers say Russian electronic‑warfare systems can divert Ukrainian long‑range drones into Baltic airspace, a pattern Moscow has used to press political accusations against Baltic states and shape public messaging.