Latvia's defense minister Andris Sprūds resigned on May 11, 2026, after two Ukrainian drones struck a fuel depot 40 kilometers into Latvian territory from the Russian border on May 7, 2026. Prime minister Evika Siliņa said Sprūds had lost her trust. Col. Raivis Melnis replaced him. This marks the fifth eastern NATO country to see defense minister turnover recently. Ukraine blamed Russian electronic warfare for diverting the drones.
Ukrainian drone strikes on Latvia
- ▪Four empty oil storage tanks were damaged in the May 7, 2026, Ukrainian drone strike on Latvia
- ▪Firefighters extinguished a smoldering area of around 30 square meters at the fuel depot in Latvia following the May 7, 2026, Ukrainian drone strike
- ▪The Ukrainian drone strike on Latvia on May 7, 2026, occurred 40 kilometers into Latvian territory from the Russian border
- ▪Residents in Rēzekne, Latvia, reported hearing explosions on May 7, 2026
- ▪Schools in Rēzekne, Latvia, were closed following the May 7, 2026, Ukrainian drone strike
- ▪Air raid alerts were declared across three municipalities in Latvia following the May 7, 2026, Ukrainian drone strike
- ▪Nobody was injured in the May 7, 2026, Ukrainian drone strike on Latvia
- ▪Two Ukrainian drones entered Latvia from Russian airspace on May 7, 2026, hitting a fuel depot
Defense minister resignation
- ▪Col. Raivis Melnis of the Latvian Army replaced Andris Sprūds as Latvia's defense minister on May 11, 2026
- ▪Latvia's prime minister Evika Siliņa said defense minister Andris Sprūds had lost her trust and that of the public
- ▪Latvia's defense minister Andris Sprūds resigned on May 11, 2026
Russian electronic warfare tactics
- ▪Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverted Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia, causing them to crash in Latvia
- ▪Russia is deliberately re-routing Ukrainian drones back toward Europe using electronic warfare
- ▪Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed on May 11, 2026, that the drones that struck Latvia were sent by Ukraine
Baltic air defense gaps
- ▪The lack of fatalities from wayward Ukrainian drones in the Baltic states has been mostly a matter of luck
- ▪Andris Sprūds stated that drones must be shot down and that this is the responsibility of the head of the Armed Forces and himself as the political leader
- ▪French NATO Baltic Air Policing jets were scrambled during the May 7, 2026, air raid alert in Latvia
- ▪Latvian officials initially said the Ukrainian drones on May 7, 2026, were not shot down because the safety of civilians and infrastructure could not be guaranteed
NATO response calls
- ▪Latvia and Lithuania jointly called on NATO to boost regional air defenses following the May 7, 2026, Ukrainian drone strike
- ▪Lithuania's defense minister Robertas Kaunas appealed to NATO that strengthening anti-drone defense in the Baltic region should be a particular emphasis
Perspective of Ukraine
- ▪Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverted Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia, causing them to crash in Latvia
- ▪Russia is deliberately re-routing Ukrainian drones back toward Europe using electronic warfare
Perspective of Latvia and Baltic NATO members
- ▪The lack of fatalities from wayward Ukrainian drones in the Baltic states has been mostly a matter of luck
- ▪Latvia and Lithuania jointly called on NATO to boost regional air defenses following the May 7, 2026, Ukrainian drone strike
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