The Latvian Defense Minister has resigned to take responsibility after two Ukrainian drones crossed the border and crashed into an oil storage tank, causing an explosion last week.
Foreign news agencies reported that Andris Spruds, Latvia's Defense Minister, announced his resignation on Sunday, 10 May 2026, following the incident on Thursday (7 May) when two Ukrainian drones crossed the border from Russia and struck an oil tank.
On Sunday morning, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina called for Spruds' resignation, stating that the anti-drone system was neither installed nor activated quickly enough. She also appointed Colonel Raivis Melnis of the Latvian Army as the new Defense Minister.
On Thursday, Latvia and Lithuania urged NATO to accelerate the enhancement of regional air defense capabilities after two drones crossed the Russian border and caused an explosion at an oil depot in Latvia.
Meanwhile, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, posted on platform X on Sunday confirming that the drones were indeed Ukrainian. He claimed their entry into Latvia was due to Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones away from their targets in Russia.
Additionally, Sybiha said on Friday that, in response to the drone incident, Ukraine is considering sending experts to help strengthen air security in the Baltic countries.
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Source:cna