The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a warning to the Baltic states, alleging they have allowed their airspace to be used for Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on April 7, 2026, that Moscow had delivered diplomatic notes to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, warning of "consequences" for what it called a "provocation."
Zakharova claimed that Ukrainian forces used the airspace of these NATO members to launch drone attacks on Russian ports in the Baltic Sea region. She did not provide specific evidence for the allegations during her briefing. The Russian ministry framed the alleged actions as a serious escalation and a violation of international law.
The governments of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have consistently denied providing their territory or airspace for attacks against Russia. All three are members of NATO and the European Union and have been staunch supporters of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. NATO's collective defense principle, Article 5, considers an attack on one member an attack on all.
This warning from Moscow follows a pattern of heightened rhetoric towards NATO's eastern flank. Regional security analysts note such statements are often used for political pressure, though they contribute to an atmosphere of increased tension in the Baltic region.
