Full Breakdown
Latvian Defence Minister Resigns After Ukrainian Drones Strike Oil Depot, Prompting NATO Air-Defense Calls
5/13/2026, 9:22:50 AM
Drone Incursion and Immediate Damage
On 7 May 2026 two unmanned aerial vehicles entered Latvia from Russian airspace and detonated at an empty oil storage facility in Rezekne, damaging four tanks and igniting a 30-square-metre fire. No injuries were reported, but schools were closed, air-raid alerts sounded across three municipalities and French NATO Baltic Air Policing jets were scrambled.
Background: Prior Baltic UAV Incursions
Since early 2026, the Baltic NATO frontier has seen several stray Ukrainian drones, including a March crash into a power-plant chimney, exposing gaps in short-range anti-drone coverage.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Evika Silina said the incident “clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defence sector has failed to fulfil the promise of safe skies over our country” and that Andris Spruds had lost public trust. Spruds later asserted that “drones must be shot down — that’s the responsibility of the head of the Armed Forces and myself.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed the UAVs were Ukrainian and blamed “Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia.”
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition lawmaker Edvards Smiltens criticised the slow rollout of anti-drone systems and called for parliamentary scrutiny of Latvia’s civil-defence readiness.
Data & Statistics
- Two UAVs entered Latvian airspace.
- Four empty oil tanks damaged; fire covered ~30 m².
- Defence budget raised to nearly 5 % of GDP, the highest level in Latvia’s history.
- NATO Baltic Air Policing jets from France scrambled but did not engage.
Why It Matters: NATO Air-Defense Gaps
The strike highlights persistent short-range anti-drone deficiencies on NATO’s eastern flank, prompting Latvia and Lithuania to request a rapid NATO-wide capability boost to safeguard civilian populations and maintain alliance cohesion.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The defence ministry initially claimed the drones were not shot down to avoid civilian risk; Spruds later reversed, insisting interception was mandatory. No source detailed the specific Russian electronic-warfare method used.
Verbatim Quotes
- “the drone incident that occurred this week clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country.” — Evika Silina, Prime Minister of Latvia
- “Drones must be shot down — that’s the responsibility of the head of the Armed Forces and myself, as the political leader.” — Andris Spruds, former Defence Minister of Latvia
- “The investigations proved that this was the result of Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia,” — Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Foreign Minister
- “I have decided to resign from the post of defense minister in order to protect the Latvian Army from being drawn into a political campaign,” — Andris Spruds, resignation statement
What’s Next
Latvia will deploy mobile air-defence units along its eastern border while awaiting NATO’s decision on additional anti-drone assets. Ukraine has offered to send specialists, and the alliance’s upcoming summit is expected to address the eastern-flank air-defence shortfall.
