Kathmandu— A NATO fighter jet shot down a drone that violated Latvian airspace on Friday, the alliance confirmed, as Ukraine launched a significant drone offensive targeting Russia's northwestern Leningrad Region. The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions and accusations of Baltic states facilitating Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian infrastructure. According to officials, 54 drones were intercepted or destroyed over the region overnight, with a fire breaking out at the port of Ust-Luga before being quickly extinguished.

Drone Interception Details

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated that Italian Eurofighters stationed in Lithuania and Turkish F-16s based in Estonia were scrambled in response to the airspace violation, with one Eurofighter ultimately downing the drone over Latvia. The Latvian Defense Ministry corroborated this account, confirming that fighter jets participating in the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission successfully intercepted a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle.

Accusations of Russian Interference

The Latvian Defense Ministry asserted that the drone entered its airspace as a consequence of Russian electronic warfare activities. This claim suggests potential interference designed to redirect or disrupt the drone’s flight path. Officials warned that similar incidents are likely to continue as long as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists.

Regional Tensions and Diplomatic Disputes

Last week, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania jointly protested statements made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, who alleged that these Baltic states were providing air corridors for Ukrainian drones targeting Russian civilian infrastructure. The governments of Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius have vehemently denied these accusations as baseless. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated on Thursday that Russia is aware of the origins of incoming UAVs.

Moscow's Warnings

Moscow has previously cautioned that if Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania knowingly assist Ukrainian drone strikes, Russia may view them as complicit in the attacks and reserve the right to self-defense under the UN Charter. This warning underscores the potential for escalation and the delicate balance of security concerns within the region.

The incident highlights the increasing risk of spillover effects from the conflict in Ukraine into neighboring countries, prompting continued vigilance and coordination among NATO allies.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.