Baltic States Turn to Ukraine for Drone Defense and Shelter Expertise

Learning From Ukraine's Experience
Ihor Fedirko, chief executive of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry, confirmed the talks are underway, saying the Baltic states are actively searching for the most effective ways to keep their people safe in the event of Russian aggression. Among those involved in discussions is Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of the major Ukrainian steel company Metinvest. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Metinvest expanded into shelter construction, now supplying both above- and below-ground structures designed to withstand airborne attacks. Ryzhenkov summed up the value of what Ukraine brings to the table simply: anyone can put up a shelter, but the real asset is the tactical knowledge behind it.

Estonia's Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur acknowledged the broader conversation but struck a confident tone, saying his country had long prepared for the possibility of Russian aggression and already had solid expertise in protecting its population. Lithuania's foreign ministry said it had no information about specific shelter discussions, while Latvia offered no comment.

A Region on Edge
The urgency behind these talks is not hypothetical. All three Baltic states have experienced drone-related incidents in recent weeks, triggering air raid alerts and prompting NATO jets to scramble in response. Lithuania issued an air danger warning after a drone breached its airspace, leading authorities in the capital Vilnius to urge residents to seek shelter and temporarily suspend operations at the airport. A NATO aircraft shot down a stray drone over Estonian territory last week. In Latvia, the situation turned politically explosive — the government collapsed earlier this month following a crisis sparked by Ukrainian drones heading toward Russian targets passing through Latvian airspace.

Kyiv has acknowledged the incursions and apologized, attributing the navigation errors to Russian jamming of drone guidance systems. Still, the incidents have added a new layer of tension for nations that already sit uneasily on NATO's eastern flank. Small in size, with populations concentrated in major cities, the Baltic states are acutely aware of their vulnerability — and they are wasting no time in looking for answers.