Nato F-16 jet ‘shoots down Ukrainian drone’ over Estonia as Russia warns of retaliation
Need to know
Ukraine has apologised for the “unintended incident” after a NATO F-16 jet reportedly shot down a Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia, as Russia warned of retaliation if Ukrainian drones are launched from Baltic countries
Romanian deployed a F-16 jet to the incident (file)(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ukrainian drone shot down over Estonia – need to know
- A Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a Ukrainian drone over southern Estonia after Russia issued chilling warnings about retaliation against Baltic nations.
- Ukraine apologised for the “unintended incident” on May 19, with Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur explaining: “Given the trajectory of the drone, we decided that we need to take it down.”
- The drone was “most probably meant to hit some Russian targets,” Pevkur told The Associated Press, marking the latest in a string of incidents where Ukrainian drones have strayed into NATO territory.
- Western officials blame Russian electronic jamming for causing the weapons to veer off course as Ukraine ramps up drone raids on energy facilities and arms factories deep inside Russia.
- Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned that Ukraine is preparing to launch drone attacks from Baltic territory, threatening “just retribution” and claiming NATO membership won’t protect Latvia.
- The tensions have already caused political upheaval, with Latvia’s government collapsing last week after the defence minister was forced to quit over handling multiple stray drone incidents.
- Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesman said experts from both countries are working on prevention measures, apologising “to Estonia and all of our Baltic friends for such unintended incidents.”
- READ THE FULL STORY: NATO jet ‘shoots down drone’ in ‘unintended incident’ after Russia’s Baltic threat
