Estonia issued an overnight air danger warning early Tuesday after detecting aerial activity outside its airspace that could pose a threat, the country’s defence forces said.
Residents in parts of Estonia were advised to remain indoors and seek shelter if they spotted drones. Authorities stressed the alert was not a drill. By about 06:00 local time Tuesday, officials said the threat had passed and no danger remained in Estonian airspace.
The Estonian Defence Forces said the precautionary alert was triggered by activity beyond the country’s borders. Residents across Estonia reported hearing loud aircraft noises overnight, believed to be allied fighter jets.
Emergency officials said people in southern and eastern Estonia called to report loud sounds during the night, but no direct threat was identified. Police and border authorities confirmed they investigated reports and found no immediate danger.
At roughly the same time, Russian media reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack in the Leningrad region, including near St Petersburg. Authorities there said at least 17 drones were intercepted, and operations at Pulkovo Airport were disrupted.
Alert in Latvia
In neighbouring Latvia, authorities also issued warnings Monday evening after detecting a foreign drone near the border with Russia. The unmanned aircraft approached Latvian airspace near the regions of Ludza and Balvi but did not enter and later moved away, prompting officials to lift the alert.
Latvia’s National Armed Forces said it continues to monitor the situation and stands ready to respond. Residents in affected areas reported receiving mobile alerts about both the potential threat and its end.
The incidents follow last week’s cases in which drones entered and exploded in all three Baltic states. Officials believe those drones, likely launched by Ukraine toward targets in Russia, may have deviated from their course or been redirected by electronic interference.
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