Russia is deliberately redirecting Ukrainian drones toward other countries in an effort to divide Europe and weaken support for Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a press conference following the NB8 summit of Nordic and Baltic prime ministers in Tallinn.
Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is responding to Russian attacks. However, unlike Russia, Ukraine only uses technology to redirect enemy drones when they are aimed at non-military targets, he explained.
According to Zelensky, Russia intentionally redirects Ukrainian drones toward other countries, including the Baltic states and Finland, in order to promote the narrative that Ukraine is to blame and create a negative perception of the country.
Asked what Ukraine can do about the issue, Zelensky said this is precisely why a cooperation agreement in the drone sector is important. Through such agreements, Ukraine can share its expertise in drone technology, including methods of defending against unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukraine is prepared to send its specialists to countries where there is a risk of such drones entering national airspace in order to share practical experience and knowledge.
In Tallinn, Zelensky signed such a cooperation agreement with Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs.
Speaking at the press conference, Kulbergs emphasized that the issue is not only about purchasing the right technology. The agreement will allow continuous cooperation with Ukrainian drone experts, as Ukraine currently possesses some of the world’s most advanced experience in protecting airspace.
Kulbergs also pointed out that although Latvia successfully shot down the drone that entered its airspace using a fighter jet, this should not be viewed as the most effective long-term solution.
“It is good to demonstrate that we are capable of doing it, but we need to become more efficient and more productive in addressing this issue,” the Latvian Prime Minister said.
As previously reported, on Monday morning NATO Baltic Air Policing fighter jets from France shot down a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle over Bērzgale Parish in Rēzekne Municipality after it entered Latvian airspace as a result of Russian electronic warfare activities. This was the first time a drone entering Latvian airspace from abroad has been shot down.
It has also been reported that under the agreement signed by Kulbergs and Zelensky, Ukraine has committed to supporting Latvia through the transfer of expertise, particularly in the fields of unmanned systems and air defense, sharing the unique military and civilian experience it has gained during the war.
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