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On Wednesday night, as Russia and Ukraine exchanged strikes, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland issued drone alerts and imposed temporary security restrictions, AnewZ reported. The incidents heightened concerns that the conflict could spread to neighboring NATO countries.
Authorities in the Baltic states urged residents to seek shelter after unidentified drones were spotted near their airspace. The drones were reported to have approached from the direction of Russia and Belarus. The alerts were lifted several hours later, and no one was injured.
NATO fighter jets were scrambled as the alerts spread across the region. Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, with a population of about 300,000, was also covered by an alert.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius called the night “a difficult night” and said four drones had been detected across the region.
An attempt was made to shoot down a drone in northern Lithuania. Debris belonging to a NATO missile was later found on the ground. It was unclear whether the drone had been hit.
Finland imposed temporary restrictions on airspace and maritime activity in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. The Finnish Defence Forces said the measures were intended to protect the public and allow authorities to conduct operations. The restrictions were later lifted.
The Finnish Defence Forces said a temporary aviation restriction zone in the eastern Gulf of Finland took effect at 02:09, while restrictions on the maritime area were imposed at 02:15.
Russia and Ukraine exchange strikes
The alerts came as Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s northwestern region, where major export facilities and an oil refinery are located on the Baltic Sea.
The strikes caused a fire in the area of the port of Ust-Luga and injured three people. In Smolensk region, near the border with Belarus, falling drone debris killed two people. Russian news agencies reported the information, citing the regional governor.
Russian airstrikes targeted several regions of Ukraine. Parts of the major industrial city of Kryvyi Rih lost electricity. Officials said one person was injured in Kharkiv and six others were wounded in Zaporizhzhia.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the reports of the incidents. Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Peace talks continue in Abu Dhabi
The escalation came as Russian and Ukrainian officials were in Abu Dhabi for peace talks that began on Tuesday and were scheduled to last two days. The United States is renewing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a peace deal was close and suggested that ending the conflict could have implications for the wider European region.
Ukraine’s continuing drone attacks on Russian oil-export facilities on the Baltic Sea have increased security concerns among neighboring NATO members. Reports that some drones had veered off course added to those concerns.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of using NATO airspace to launch attacks on Russian territory. Ukraine says Russian electronic jamming has diverted some drones.
NATO member states have held Russia responsible for the broader security crisis, linking it to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
