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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia on Tuesday of trying to destabilize European democracies through a recent wave of drone alerts in the Baltic region, while acknowledging that the incidents had exposed vulnerabilities in the continent’s defenses.
Von der Leyen made the remarks at a press conference with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, countries on NATO’s eastern flank bordering Russia.
Her visit came a week after people in Lithuania were ordered to head to bunkers following a brief drone alert in the capital Vilnius. It was the first such order for the general population since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“People in the Baltic countries have been experiencing what many believed belonged to another era,” von der Leyen said.
“These are not isolated incidents. This is a deliberate strategy from Russia, trying to destabilize our democratic societies,” she added.
Von der Leyen said the recent wave of air raid alarms showed that Europe still has weaknesses in its defense systems.
“These incidents have exposed vulnerabilities,” she said.
She also said Russia was failing despite what she described as an attempt to pressure European societies.
“But very much like on the battlefields of Ukraine, Russia is failing,” von der Leyen said.
The remarks were delivered alongside leaders from the Baltic region, which has faced repeated alerts in recent weeks.
Drone alerts have become increasingly common in recent months in the Baltic states.
The rise in alerts has coincided with Ukraine stepping up strikes against Russian targets in the Saint Petersburg region, which is close to Estonia and Finland.
The Baltic countries have been on NATO’s eastern flank since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 placed renewed focus on the security of states bordering or near Russia.
Von der Leyen warned that Moscow’s use of such tactics may not remain limited to the Baltic region.
“What you are experiencing today, the rest of Europe could face tomorrow,” she said.
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