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Latvian PM resigns after row over stray Ukrainian drones - BBC
The political fallout was triggered by the incursion of three drones into Latvian airspace on 7 May - the second such accident since the start of 2026.Both Latvia and Ukraine acknowledged that the drones may have been Ukrainian UAVs intended to target Russia whose signals had been jammed, leading them to stray into Latvia. One drone crashed on the ground while another struck an empty oil product storage facility near the town of Rezekne. The third flew in and out of Latvian airspace. There were no casualties or injuries - but local residents told media that the official response to the incident had been delayed and insufficient. They said the cell broadcast alert system had not been activated for an hour after one of the drones crashed near Rezekne. Silina had said after the incident: "Something went wrong. We cannot afford for this situation to continue."She said she had also asked Spruds to resign because of the situation in the Latvian defence sector as a whole. The Baltic country spends 5% of its GDP on national defence, Silina noted, which she said entailed a "much higher level of responsibility toward society... that requires clear results".President Edgars Rinkevics said he would take a decision on the "quickest possible formation" of a new government on 15 May.Evika Silina was appointed Latvia's prime minister in September 2023, heading a three-party coalition government.Her government has been steadfast in its support of Ukraine against Russia. Latvia, like the other two Baltic countries Lithuania and Estonia, feels increasingly nervous about potential Russian aggression. It has significantly accelerated its defence capabilities and officially reintroduced compulsory military service a year after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Latvia prime minister resigns over straying Ukraine drones
RIGA - Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned on May 14 after a key party in her coalition withdrew support in a row over Ukrainian drones that strayed into the Baltic nation.The drones were on an attack mission across the border in Russia, and Ukraine said they crashed into Latvian territory on May 7 after being electronically diverted by the Russian military.One caused a fire at a disused oil storage site in eastern Latvia.Ms Silina on May 10 sacked her Defence Minister Andris Spruds over the affair.She said Latvia’s anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough to counter the drone intrusions.Mr Spruds’s sacking prompted nine of his allies, fellow members of the left-wing Progressive party, to quit Ms Silina’s ruling coalition, alleging she had made him a scapegoat.Mr Spruds formally resigned on May 11 and Ms Salina proposed a military officer as his replacement but the Progressive party rejected him.Their withdrawal left her government with just 41 seats in the 100-seat Parliament and opposition parties said they would call a vote of confidence just five months out from legislative elections.In a further blow on May 14, Mr Armands Krauze, Minister for Agriculture, from the Union of Greens and Farmers, was briefly detained as part of ongoing enquiries by anti-corruption body KNAB into state aid to firms in the forestry sector.Ms Silina, from the Unity party, had been prime minister since September 2023.Announcing her resignation, she told a press conference: “The most important thing for me is the well-being of Latvians and the security of our country.”She added: “We are fully aware of the times we are all living in. The brutal war waged by Russia in Ukraine has changed the security situation throughout Europe.”President Edgars Rinkevics has said he will meet party leaders on May 15 for talks on a new government.Several Russian and Ukrainian drones have crashed in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.A Ukrainian drone fell in Latvia on March 25.Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian ports and energy facilities in the region in recent months.The drone intrusions have not caused victims but they have exposed weaknesses in the Latvia’s air defence system.Following talks with Mr Rinkevics at a summit in Bucharest on May 13, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would send experts to Latvia to help with their air defences.Ukraine would also work with Latvia “to build a multi-layered ...
Latvian PM resigns collapsing government - TVP World
7 hours ago ... Latvia's center-right Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has said she is resigning ... over the handling of incidents involving stray Ukrainian drones flying into Latvia ...
Latvian prime minister resigns after controversy over stray Ukrainian ...
Her resignation came after Latvia's Defense Minister Andris Spruds, from the Progressives Party, was forced to resign last week over the government's handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine crossing into Latvian territory. Silina said at the time Spruds had lost her trust and that of the public.
