Ukrainian Drone Crosses Four NATO Countries as Russian Warship Is Struck Nearby

Emergency alerts sounded on phones across the Baltic states early Wednesday morning, Nov. 11, as Ukrainian drones crossed NATO airspace during an overnight attack on Russia that also struck a Russian Baltic Fleet warship in the Gulf of Finland.

One drone reportedly traveled through the airspace of four NATO countries—Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—triggering a series of escalating emergency alerts and prompting NATO fighter jets to attempt to intercept it. Although the drone's suspected flight path corresponds with the direction of the Russian naval incident, it remains unclear whether the same aircraft was responsible for striking the vessel.

Photo / Josh / Keryex

The incident unfolded amid a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russia, including the St. Petersburg region and the port of Ust-Luga. It also followed separate incidents in which three drones briefly entered Latvian airspace and another crossed into Lithuania.

The drone was first detected by Lithuanian authorities over the Belarusian city of Grodno, traveling toward Druskininkai in southern Lithuania. It subsequently changed course, reportedly entering Polish airspace before crossing into Lithuania near the town of Lazdijai. From there, the drone continued northward, triggering emergency and air raid alerts along its reported flight path.

Fighter jets assigned to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission were scrambled to intercept the drone as it passed over Kaunas, Lithuania. According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces' chief of defence staff, NATO fighter jets made two unsuccessful attempts to shoot down the drone. At least one missile was launched, with debris from the missile subsequently discovered near the town of Biržai in northern Lithuania.

Despite the interception attempts, the drone continued northward into Latvian airspace, tracked by NATO fighter jets. Latvian authorities issued several orange alerts, the country's highest-level air raid warning, as the drone traveled through its territory.

Lithuanian authorities issued a series of yellow and red alerts across affected regions, while Latvia issued yellow and orange alerts. Estonia also issued warnings of a potential aerial threat, with its first alerts sent at approximately 3:12 a.m. Finland imposed temporary airspace and maritime restrictions over a small area of the Gulf of Finland corresponding with the drone's projected flight path.

Air Alert Levels Across the Baltics

• Yellow alert: Indicates a potential aerial threat, warning residents to remain vigilant and prepare for possible protective action.

• Orange alert: Indicates a heightened aerial threat requiring protective action. Latvia's highest air alert level.

• Red alert: Lithuania's highest air alert level, warning residents of an immediate aerial threat and instructing them to seek shelter.

Note: Alert systems differ between Baltic countries. Keryex has standardized the colors for clarity, with Estonia's potential air threat warnings represented in yellow.

\
Although the series of orange alerts ended in Latvia, reports of drone activity continued into Estonia, where residents reported hearing aircraft overhead, including NATO fighter jets.

Estonian Defence Minister Martin Herem subsequently confirmed that Ukrainian drones had briefly violated the country's airspace from both the southeast and northeast during the overnight attacks on Russia. According to Herem, one drone entered Estonian airspace from Latvia at approximately 3:30 a.m. before continuing toward Russia, while several other drones briefly crossed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland.

Herem stated that the Ukrainian attack on the Ust-Luga area lasted from approximately midnight until 6 a.m., with most drones remaining in Russian airspace near the Estonian border. NATO fighter jets, including Turkish aircraft assigned to protect Estonian airspace, were airborne throughout the incident but did not engage the drones due to their proximity to Russian territory.

During the same operation, a Russian Baltic Fleet warship was struck in the Gulf of Finland. Ukraine's Security Service subsequently confirmed that its forces had targeted the Naro-Fominsk, a Buyan-M-class missile ship capable of launching Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles. The SBU stated that the strike had been planned in advance and was carried out alongside attacks on Russian port and oil infrastructure at Ust-Luga.

Herem separately confirmed that an explosion occurred aboard a Russian Baltic Fleet vessel in the Gulf of Finland at approximately 5:30 a.m., followed by reports of smoke rising from the ship. The vessel subsequently traveled toward St. Petersburg under its own power. Estonian authorities could not independently establish whether the explosion was caused by a Ukrainian attack or another incident.

The developments establish that Ukrainian drones crossed Baltic airspace during an operation that struck Russian military and energy infrastructure. However, while the suspected flight path of the drone tracked through Lithuania and Latvia points toward the Gulf of Finland, it remains unconfirmed whether that particular drone was responsible for the strike on the Naro-Fominsk.