Ukraine reacts after Estonia shoots down drone and points to key detail
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia continues to redirect Ukrainian drones toward the Baltic region using electronic warfare systems. Ukraine apologized to Estonia and all Baltic countries for such unintentional incidents, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said.
As Tykhyi emphasized, Russia continues to redirect Ukrainian drones toward Baltic countries using electronic warfare systems.
"And Moscow does this on purpose, together with intensified propaganda. We apologise to Estonia and all of our Baltic friends for such unintended incidents," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
Tykhyi said that Ukraine is cooperating and continues close cooperation between specialized institutions to get to the root of the problem in each case and seek ways to prevent them, including with direct participation of Ukrainian expert groups.
The Foreign Ministry stressed that contrary to claims of Russian propaganda, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland have never allowed the use of their airspace for strikes on Russia.
Ukraine also never appealed to these states with such requests.
Tykhyi noted that Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and legitimate military targets are located on Russian territory. Russian airspace itself is used to strike them.
"The Russians have no right to blame Ukraine, the Baltic states, or Finland for the consequences of its actions and, more broadly, its war of aggression," he stressed.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also thanked Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland for support and solidarity with Ukraine.
What preceded this
A NATO fighter jet patrolling the airspace in the Baltic region shot down a drone over Estonia. This happened today, May 19.
The drone was shot down over Lake Võrtsjärv in the southern part of the country.
According to Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, it was most likely a Ukrainian drone that went off course due to system jamming.
