Latvian prime minister resigns after coalition row over stray drones

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned after a political crisis triggered by Russian-bound Ukrainian drones straying into Latvian airspace.

The fallout has brought down her governing coalition months before a planned general election in October.

The incident began on 7 May, when three drones entered Latvian airspace.

One crashed on the ground, another struck an empty oil product storage facility near the town of Rezekne, and the third flew in and out of Latvian airspace.

Silina had already fired Defence Minister Andris Spruds last week after two drones crashed in eastern Latvia, criticising his response and appointing a replacement.

In protest, Spruds's Progressives party withdrew support for the coalition, causing it to collapse.

There were no casualties or injuries, but residents said the official response was delayed and insufficient.

They said the cell broadcast alert system was not activated for an hour after one of the drones crashed near Rezekne.

The resignation matters because it has turned an airspace incident into a wider government crisis in a country that has been a strong supporter of Ukraine.

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