Latvian Defence Minister Resigns after Ukrainian Drones Hit Oil Tanks
By Janis Laizans and Andrius Sytas
Police officer looks towards damage to an oil tank after drones crashed at a storage facility in Rezekne, Latvia, May 7, 2026.
Latvia’s Defence Minister Andris Spruds speaks during a press conference with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, in Berlin, Germany, March 16, 2026.
RIGA, May 10 (Reuters) – Latvian Defence Minister ‌Andris Spruds resigned on Sunday, after two Ukrainian drones on Thursday flew in from Russia ​and hit oil storage facilities.
Earlier on ​Sunday, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina demanded the resignation, saying anti-drone systems had ​not been deployed fast enough. She appointed ​Latvian army colonel Raivis Melnis as the new defence minister.
Latvia and Lithuania on Thursday called on NATO ​to boost air defences in their ​region after two drones came over the Russian ‌border and exploded at an oil storage facility in Latvia.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on Sunday said on X that the drones were ​Ukrainian, and ​flew into Latvia as a result of “Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian ​drones from their targets in Russia.”
In ​response to the drone incidents, Ukraine is considering sending experts to help strengthen air security over the ​Baltic states, Sybiha said ​on Friday.
Original source: https://www.reuters.com/world/latvian-defence-minister-resigns-after-ukrainian-drones-hit-oil-tanks-2026-05-10/
