Baltic states detect drone activity near Russia

Estonia, Latvia and Finland report UAV sightings amid rising tensions on NATO's eastern flank.
Text: Óscar Ontañón Docal
Published 2026-04-01

Estonia and Latvia have reported drone activity near their borders with Russia, while Finland is investigating a separate incident involving an unmanned aerial vehicle on its territory.

Estonian defence forces say they detected "potentially dangerous air activity" overnight, both inside and outside national airspace. Debris from at least one drone was later found in Tartu County, with officials suggesting it was "highly likely" the UAV had strayed from Ukrainian operations.

Latvia's military also reported detecting a drone near its border with Russia, though it did not enter Latvian airspace.

In Finland, authorities confirmed that a drone had been found near the Russian border on a frozen lake. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said there was no indication of a direct military threat, despite the incident marking a rare spillover of the war in Ukraine onto Finnish soil.

The developments come as Ukraine intensifies drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, including targets near the Gulf of Finland. Finnish officials said their air force maintained a heightened state of readiness, with fighter jets deployed for much of the night.

Latvia border

Back