Russia hijacks Ukrainian drones and redirects them to Baltic states and Finland

Russia has found a method to take control of Ukrainian drones and redirect them toward Finland and the Baltic states, according to The Telegraph. The development raises serious security concerns for Estonia and its neighbours.

Russia has developed a capability to seize control of Ukrainian drones mid-flight and redirect them toward Finland and the Baltic states, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

The technique reportedly allows Russian forces to hijack Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and steer them off course — sending them not back toward Russian-held territory, but across international borders into NATO member states. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland have all been identified as potential destinations for these redirected drones.

## A new dimension of hybrid warfare

The development marks a significant escalation in electronic warfare tactics and represents a new dimension of Russia's broader hybrid warfare strategy targeting NATO's eastern flank. By weaponising Ukrainian military equipment against NATO allies, Moscow could simultaneously weaken Ukraine's drone capabilities while creating security incidents in neighbouring countries.

For Estonia and the other Baltic states — already on high alert due to their proximity to Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine — the revelation adds another layer of concern. Incidents involving unidentified or redirected drones in the region could strain military resources, trigger diplomatic tensions, and test alliance response protocols.

## Baltic and Finnish security implications

Finland, which shares a long border with Russia and only recently joined NATO, faces particular exposure. Any drone incursion into Finnish airspace would represent a direct challenge to the alliance's territorial integrity and could trigger Article 4 consultations or stronger responses.

Security analysts have long warned that Russia's electronic warfare capabilities — including GPS jamming and signal spoofing — pose a persistent threat to aviation and military systems across the Baltic region. The ability to commandeer enemy drones and use them as tools of provocation would represent a sophisticated evolution of these existing capabilities. NATO member states in the region are expected to review their drone detection and countermeasure systems in light of the new reporting.