Ukraine drones breach NATO airspace, Latvia PM resigns

Ukrainian drones have repeatedly breached the airspace of NATO and Baltic states in recent months, prompting international concern over the alliance's eastern flank defenses and contributing to the collapse of Latvia's government in May. Incidents include drones crashing into an Estonian power plant chimney, striking empty fuel tanks in Latvia, and being intercepted by Romanian fighter jets over Lithuania, while residents of Vilnius sought shelter in underground car parks on May 20 following warnings of unidentified drone activity from neighboring Belarus. No fatalities or injuries have been reported from these incursions. Ukrainian officials have apologized for the violations, attributing them to Russian electronic interference that diverts drones off course through jamming and spoofing of satellite navigation systems. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys accused Moscow of deliberately redirecting Ukrainian drones into Baltic airspace, though Russia has responded by threatening "just retribution" and claiming without evidence that Ukraine plans to launch attacks from Baltic territory. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the alliance's handling of the incidents as "calm, decisive and proportionate," while Baltic ministers have urged Ukraine to send drones further from NATO territory. Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone attacks against Russian oil infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. On May 21, Ukrainian drones struck the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara region, located more than 800 kilometers from the front line, killing at least two people and causing a large fire. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that attacks on Russian oil refineries, storage facilities, and related infrastructure have become nearly daily occurrences as part of Ukraine's May strike plan to deplete Moscow's war chest. The Institute for the Study of War reported that these intensified strikes have degraded Russian offensive capabilities and supported recent Ukrainian battlefield advances.