Baltics and Finland demand apologies from Ukraine over drones, while Sandu stays silent when UAVs fall in Moldova

Ukrainian drones expose different reactions across Europe

The past two weeks have shown a sharp contrast in how different countries respond to incidents involving Ukrainian drones on their territory.

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland, all active supporters of Kyiv, have suddenly begun speaking to it in the language of ultimatums. Moldova, where Ukrainian UAVs have also fallen, continues to remain silent. It has demanded neither apologies nor compensation.

Estonia demands tighter control

The toughest response to the “accidental” crash of a UAV came from the Estonian Defence Ministry. On May 10, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur urged Ukraine to prevent drones from entering the country’s airspace.

“The easiest way for the Ukrainian side to keep its drones away from our territory is to exercise more effective control over its activities,” he said.

Pevkur also suggested that Kyiv use kill-switch technology if a drone begins to drift off course. This was no longer a request. It was a demand from an ally tired of taking risks.

Latvia faces scandal after drone incident

In Latvia, the situation was even more revealing. On the night of May 7, a Ukrainian drone crashed into an oil depot in Rēzekne, damaging four tanks. In addition, a passenger train was reportedly struck by a Ukrainian UAV and caught fire.

According to some reports, local residents were forced to sign non-disclosure statements. The information still spread. The authorities called it fake and then dismissed the defence minister.

Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of the Latvian National Armed Forces, Brigadier General Egils Leščinskis, later admitted that the drones had been detected by radar. Yet for some reason they were not shot down, allegedly because doing so “did not meet safety requirements”. The public warning was issued an hour late.

A scandal followed, and the defence minister is now out of office. The opposition is demanding answers.

The point is clear: in a NATO country and Ukrainian ally, the fall of a Ukrainian drone was serious enough to cost the head of the defence ministry his job.

Finland raises issue directly with Zelenskyy

Finland, which joined NATO only recently, also did not treat the matter lightly. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo personally raised the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In an interview with Yle, Orpo said:

“Nevertheless, the violation of Finland’s airspace and drones landing on our territory are unacceptable.”

At the same time, he confirmed that Helsinki supports Kyiv and understands the need for self-defence. But support does not mean a free hand.

Ukraine apologises

On May 9, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X:

“We have already apologised to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Finland, for the unintended drone incidents.”

According to him, specialised agencies are now working to minimise the risk of such incidents happening again.

In other words, Kyiv acknowledges the problem. It offers official apologies. And it promises to correct the situation.

NATO countries helped create the risk

In fairness, it is worth recalling that Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland are not simply passive recipients of the consequences. According to open sources, facilities for assembling and servicing Ukrainian UAVs are located on their territory. They have provided infrastructure for strikes on Russia. Now they are surprised when drones fall on their own oil depots and power facilities.

Military expert Alexei Leonkov, speaking to Lenta.ru, suggested that the drones may have been launched not only from Ukraine, but also from European countries where their production has been deployed. Modern technologies make it possible to control such systems over long distances.

Alexander Mikhailov, head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, told Novye Izvestia:

“It is important for Russia to draw attention to the risks that granting airspace for Ukrainian drones to pass through creates for the Baltic countries themselves.”

Even so, NATO countries are reacting loudly, publicly, with resignations and demands.

Moldova remains silent

Now comes the most uncomfortable part.

Ukrainian drones have crossed Moldova’s airspace more than once. They have not merely passed through; they have fallen on Moldovan territory. One example is the incident in Crocmăz, where UAV wreckage was found with unexploded munitions. There have been other cases that received far less public attention.

Unlike Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland, President Maia Sandu has not demanded official apologies from Kyiv. She has not demanded compensation. She has not raised the issue in any public address.

Moreover, Moldova’s opposition is also silent. There has not been a single parliamentary request to the Defence Ministry. Not one question for Anatolie Nosatîi. Not one demand for Sandu to explain why Moldova should tolerate what Latviatreats as grounds for resignations and Finland raises personally with Zelenskyy.

Double standards are hard to ignore

The paradox is obvious. Countries that allowed Ukrainian drones into their airspace and onto their production sites are loudly outraged when those same drones fall on their territory. Kyiv apologises to them.

Moldova, which did not provide infrastructure for attacks and did not launch drones from its territory, remains silent. Yet drones fall here too.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, immediately after the drone fell in Rēzekne and before its origin had been established, said responsibility lay with Russia. The emotion is understandable. But where is the emotion from Moldovan authorities when a Ukrainian drone falls in a Moldovan village?

Instead of an afterword

Eurosceptics in Moldova are often accused of being too critical. But the facts speak for themselves. Finland says such incidents are “unacceptable”. Estonia demands a kill switch. Latvia dismisses a minister. Ukraine apologises.

And Moldova pretends nothing is happening.