politics
May 11, 2026
Latvian defense minister resigns after Ukrainian drones hit oil tanks
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina sacked Defense Minister Andris Spruds after Ukrainian drones hit Latvia’s oil tanks this week
TL;DR
- Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds was dismissed by Prime Minister Evika Silina after Ukrainian drones struck oil storage facilities within Latvia.
- Silina cited a failure in the defense sector leadership to guarantee the country's safety and stated Spruds had lost her and public trust.
- Spruds asserted he was already planning to resign and accused Silina of prematurely announcing his dismissal for political reasons and lying about informing him and his party.
- The incident highlights rising security concerns in Baltic states due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with similar reports of Ukrainian drones entering NATO airspace.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga commented on the event, reportedly apologizing to Baltic states and Finland while also attempting to attribute blame to Russia.