Estonia expects Ukraine to tighten control over drones after several incidents of violating the airspace of the Baltic states. Tallinn stated that it supports Ukraine's right to strike Russian targets, but emphasizes the need to avoid risks to the territory of NATO countries.
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The Estonian government said it expects to improve control over Ukrainian drones after a series of incidents on the borders of the Baltic states. In recent months, several drones, allegedly launched during attacks on Russian targets in the Baltic Sea region, have ended up in the territory of Estonia, Latvia and Finland.
On Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said Kyiv was considering sending Ukrainian experts to the region, saying it could help strengthen the security of allied airspace and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Estonia confirmed that Ukrainian and Estonian officials have already discussed the issue. The country's Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur, said that Tallinn expects Ukraine to exercise greater control over its drone flights.
“The easiest way for Ukrainians to keep their drones away from our territory is to better control their activities,” he noted.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed that the country supports Ukraine's right to self-defense and strike Russian targets, but the government is concerned about the risk of more serious incidents. He said there is also a danger that Russia could intercept or redirect Ukrainian drones towards NATO countries.
According to Estonian authorities, several drones violated the country's airspace in March. One of them crashed into the chimney of the Auvere power plant, located about two kilometers from the Russian border. Another drone later crashed in Tartu County, and the wreckage of others was found on the Baltic Sea coast.
Estonian and Ukrainian officials are also discussing technical solutions to prevent such incidents. Possible measures include changing drone flight routes and installing automatic self-destruct systems that can be activated if the drone deviates from its intended course.