Estonia Says Ukraine Was Not Authorized to Use Its Airspace After Drone Incursions
Estonia said it did not authorize Ukraine or any other foreign state to fly drones through its airspace after several drones briefly crossed the border during Ukraine’s overnight attack on Russian targets on November 11, 2025. The government convened a security meeting, notified Ukraine and NATO allies, and NATO fighters took off from Ämari to patrol the Baltic region.
Key points
- Several drones briefly entered Estonian airspace near the border in the night against November 11, 2025, violating the state border.
- Estonia said it had not authorized Ukraine or any other foreign state to use its airspace for drone flights.
- The incursions occurred during a large-scale Ukrainian strike on Russian targets, including the port of Ust-Luga in Leningrad Oblast.
- NATO fighters took off from Ämari Air Base to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states.
- Estonia informed its NATO allies and repeatedly notified Ukraine’s ambassador about the incident and the absence of permission.
- Estonia’s prime minister, Kristen Michal, convened a government security meeting.
- Residents of Latvia and Lithuania received warnings about the threat of drone incursions.
Why it matters
The incursions triggered a diplomatic dispute over whether Ukraine had permission to use Estonian airspace and prompted a NATO air-patrol response. They also highlighted the security risks posed by cross-border drone activity and Estonia’s allegations that Russia deliberately redirected Ukrainian drones toward Baltic airspace as part of provocations against Western countries.
What happened
During the night and morning of November 11, 2025, a large number of drones were operating near Estonia’s borders as Ukraine attacked Russian targets, including the Ust-Luga port. Some drones briefly entered Estonian airspace, resulting in a violation of the state border. Estonia’s prime minister, Kristen Michal, convened a government meeting on security to receive information about the violations and nighttime drone attacks. NATO fighters were mobilized from Ämari Air Base as part of the Alliance’s Baltic airspace-patrol mission. Estonia also notified its NATO allies and repeatedly sent relevant information to Ukraine’s ambassador.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian-language reporting centered on Estonia’s assertion that Ukraine had not received permission to use Estonian airspace. The reports connected the incursions to Ukraine’s strike on Russian targets and emphasized Estonia’s notifications to Ukraine and NATO. They also highlighted Estonia’s claim that Russia had intentionally redirected Ukrainian drones toward Baltic airspace and the resulting regional security response.
Where reporting differs
The available accounts present a distinction between Estonia’s position that it never authorized Ukraine to fly drones through its airspace and the reported operational context in which the aircraft were part of a Ukrainian attack involving numerous drones near Estonia’s borders.
Background
The incident occurred during the night and morning of November 11, 2025, when Ukraine attacked Russian targets, including the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast. It followed earlier cross-border incidents: Estonia shot down a Ukrainian drone that violated its airspace in May 2025, while NATO fighters shot down a drone in Latvian airspace in June 2025. Estonia notified both Ukraine’s ambassador and its NATO allies about the November incident.