Ukrainian drones crash 11 times in 6 European countries in three months, fighter jet downs drone over NATO airspace for first time

Moscow – Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that over the past three months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly crashed in European Union member states, and 11 of those incidents have been publicly confirmed. According to her, these incidents have triggered a government crisis in Latvia, an emergency aviation shutdown in Finland, and environmental and social problems across Eastern Europe.

Zakharova stated: “Brussels has already approved tens of billions of euros for weapons purchases for Kyiv, integrated Ukraine into drone production programmes, and set up an entire conveyor belt of lethal weapons supplies. But what have European citizens received in return? The confirmed incidents listed below are just a few examples.”

Factual details (March–June 2026):

· March 23 (Lithuania): A Ukrainian combat drone fell onto Lake Lavysas in Varėna District. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė confirmed the drone was Ukrainian.
· March 25 (Estonia): A Ukrainian drone crashed into the chimney of the Auvere Power Plant. Estonia’s Security Service confirmed its Ukrainian origin.
· March 25 (Latvia): A Ukrainian drone fell in Krāslava Municipality. President Edgars Rinkēvičs confirmed it was Ukrainian.
· March 29 (Finland): Two drones fell near Kouvola. One was identified as a Ukrainian AN-196. The other carried an unexploded warhead, which was destroyed in a controlled detonation. Ukraine apologised.
· May 7 (Latvia): Two Ukrainian AN-196 drones struck an oil storage facility in Rēzekne. This triggered a political crisis. Defence Minister Andris Sprūds resigned on May 10. Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announced the government’s collapse when she resigned on May 15. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha apologised.
· May 7 (Greece): Off the coast of Lefkada Island, fishermen discovered a Ukrainian kamikaze naval drone carrying 100 kg of explosives with its engine still running. The Hellenic National Defence General Staff confirmed the drone was Ukrainian and “operated on behalf of Ukraine.” Athens lodged an official diplomatic protest with Kyiv on May 28 and 29. Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said: “Ukraine owes us a very big apology.”
· May 15 (Finland): Ukraine warned Helsinki that during an attack, it had sent drones carrying warheads towards Finland. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport was closed for three hours. 1.8 million residents received an emergency alert instructing them to stay indoors. F/A-18 fighter jets were scrambled. Finnish MPs called the alert unprecedented.
· May 17 (Lithuania): A drone fell in Utena District. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed: “Yes, this is a Ukrainian drone that went off course.” Explosives were found at the site. Lithuania’s air defence systems failed to detect the drone. The Office of the President criticised failures in the early warning system.
· May 19 (Estonia): As part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, a Romanian F-16 shot down a Ukrainian drone with an air-to-air missile over southern Estonia. This was the first time in NATO’s history that a fighter jet has downed an unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of a member state. The debris fell near the town of Põltsamaa. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said: “Ukraine was not authorised to use Estonian airspace.” Kyiv apologised.
· June 5 (Romania): Four Ukrainian MAGURA V5 naval drones exploded in the port of Constanța and adjacent waters – one near an oil terminal, close to the headquarters of the water rescue service. Coastal evacuation was announced. The Ukrainian navy confirmed the drones were its own and had lost control. Bucharest confirmed their Ukrainian origin.

Following these incidents, the government in Latvia collapsed, major disruptions to aviation and civil security occurred in Finland, and environmental damage has been reported in many places across Eastern Europe. According to Zakharova: “Kyiv is bombing the European Union every week. But the response from European leadership is always the same: ‘Give Kyiv more money.’ If anyone needs a concrete example of political self-harm, this is it.”