Baltic Foreign Ministers Reject Russian Claims About Ukrainian Drone Access

The foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have forcefully dismissed what they describe as a Russian disinformation campaign claiming the Baltic states had granted Ukraine permission to use their airspace for drone operations against Russian targets.

In a joint statement published on the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry’s website, the three Baltic nations categorically rejected Moscow’s allegations as “completely unfounded.” The ministers emphasized that their countries have never permitted their territories or airspace to be utilized for Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russia.

“We have firmly rejected these false claims and communicated our position clearly to Russian diplomatic representatives,” the statement read. The ministers noted that they had formally conveyed their denials to Russia’s chargé d’affaires in each Baltic capital – Tallinn on March 27, Riga on March 31, and Vilnius on March 27.

The allegations come amid heightened tensions between Russia and the Baltic states, which have been among the most vocal European supporters of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all NATO and EU members, have consistently provided military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine while advocating for stronger Western responses to Russian aggression.

This incident represents the latest in a series of diplomatic confrontations between Moscow and the Baltic nations, whose relations have deteriorated significantly in recent years. The three Baltic states, which were forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union during World War II before regaining independence in 1991, have frequently warned about Russian disinformation campaigns targeting their societies and institutions.

Security analysts note that such allegations could be part of a broader strategy to create division among NATO allies regarding their support for Ukraine. The Baltic states in particular have remained steadfast in their backing of Kyiv, seeing Ukraine’s defense as directly linked to their own national security interests.

“False narratives about NATO countries directly enabling attacks on Russian territory serve a dual purpose for Moscow,” said Maria Levshinova, an Eastern European security expert at the Baltic Defense Institute. “They aim to create domestic support within Russia for potential escalatory actions while simultaneously attempting to sow doubt among Western nations about the risks of supporting Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian government has not officially commented on the specific allegations, though it has repeatedly emphasized its right to defend itself against Russian aggression using all available means.

For the Baltic nations, countering such disinformation has become a priority, with all three countries investing in strategic communication capabilities and participating in NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence based in Riga, Latvia.

The incident underscores the increasingly complex information warfare dimension of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where narratives and counter-narratives play a significant role alongside conventional military operations.

As the war approaches its third year, the Baltic states remain on high alert, not only against potential military threats but also against hybrid warfare tactics, including disinformation campaigns designed to undermine their sovereignty and democratic institutions.