Latvian defense minister resigns after Russian drone incursions

Monday 11 May 2026 - 15:00

Latvia’s defense minister, Andris Spruds, resigned following the incursion of two drones that crossed into Latvian territory and struck oil storage infrastructure earlier this week.

The resignation came after Prime Minister Evika Silina publicly stated that the defense minister had lost both her confidence and the trust of the public. She criticized the delayed deployment of anti-drone systems and argued that the incident exposed weaknesses in the country’s air defense preparedness.

According to Latvian authorities, the drones entered the country from the direction of Russia before crashing in eastern Latvia. One drone reportedly hit a fuel storage site near the city of Rezekne, causing a fire that emergency services later managed to contain.

The Latvian government stressed that national security remains a top priority, especially as the Baltic country continues to strengthen its defense capabilities within NATO. Latvia is among the alliance’s highest defense spenders relative to its economic size, dedicating nearly 5% of its gross domestic product to military and security investments.

Colonel Raivis Melnis is expected to assume the position of defense minister following Spruds’ resignation.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested that the drones may have been Ukrainian devices redirected through Russian electronic warfare systems. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022, several drones linked to the conflict have landed in Baltic countries including Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.

The latest incident has renewed concerns in the Baltic region over airspace security and the broader impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.