Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina Resigns Over Downing of Ukrainian Drones
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has tendered her resignation, dissolving her government after a political dispute concerning Ukrainian drones that strayed into Latvian airspace.
The crisis originated on 7 May when three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reportedly targeting Russia, entered Latvian territory. Both Kyiv and Riga acknowledged the drones may have been Ukrainian, their signals jammed, causing them to deviate from their intended course. One drone crashed near Rezekne, striking an empty oil product storage facility, whilst another came down on the ground. A third briefly crossed Latvian airspace.
Although no casualties were reported, local residents criticised the delayed and insufficient official response, noting that the cell broadcast alert system was activated an hour after one drone crashed. In response, Silina dismissed Defence Minister Andris Spruds, citing his handling of the incident and broader concerns within the defence sector.
Silina stated, "Something went wrong. We cannot afford for this situation to continue," adding that Latvia's 5% GDP defence spending necessitated a "much higher level of responsibility toward society... that requires clear results."
Spruds's Progressives party subsequently withdrew its support from Silina's four-party coalition, which had been in power since September 2023, forcing its collapse ahead of October's general election. Silina commented, "Seeing a strong candidate for the post of defence minister... political windbags have chosen a crisis. I am resigning but I am not giving up."
President Edgars Rinkevics is expected to announce a decision on forming a new government on 15 May. Latvia, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has significantly bolstered its defence capabilities, reintroducing compulsory military service, reflecting broader anxieties within the Baltic states regarding potential Russian aggression.
