Latvian Defense Minister Quits Over Drone Incident

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds resigned on Sunday after two Ukrainian drones, apparently diverted from targets in Russia, flew into Latvia on Thursday and hit oil storage facilities.

Earlier on Sunday, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina demanded his resignation, saying anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough. She appointed Latvian army Col Raivis Melnis as the new defense minister.

Latvia and Lithuania on Thursday called on NATO to strengthen air defenses in the region after two drones crossed the Russian border and exploded at an oil storage facility in Latvia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X on Sunday that the drones were Ukrainian and had flown into Latvia as a result of “Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia”.

Sybiha said on Friday that Ukraine was considering sending experts to help strengthen air security over the Baltic states in response to the drone incidents.

(reuters, im)