Latvian Prime Minister Resigns After Drone Crisis from Ukraine
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned. The resignation followed a political crisis. The crisis began after Russia-bound Ukrainian drones strayed into Latvian territory.Silina fired her Defence Minister Andris Spruds last week. Two drones crashed down in eastern Latvia. She criticised his response and appointed a replacement.
Coalition Collapses
In protest, Spruce’s Progressives party pulled their support. That caused Silina’s governing coalition to collapse. The collapse happened months before a planned general election in October.“Political windbags have chosen a crisis,” Silina said on Thursday. “I am resigning but I am not giving up.”
Three Drones Enter Latvian Airspace
The political fallout was triggered on 7 May. Three drones entered Latvian airspace. It was the second such accident since the start of 2026.Latvia and Ukraine acknowledged the drones may have been Ukrainian UAVs. Their signals may have been jammed. As a result, they strayed into Latvia.One drone crashed on the ground. Another struck an empty oil storage facility near Rezekne. The third flew in and out of Latvian airspace. There were no casualties. However, local residents said the official response was delayed. The cell broadcast alert system was not activated for an hour after one crash.\
