Two drones were spotted hovering near the Camp Reedo US Army base in Estonia, just 30 miles from the border with Russia as fears grow in the region over Putin’s aggression
NATO forces have shot down a mystery drone that was seen flying close to a military base used by US forces in Estonia, close to Putin’s Russia[1].
Camp Reedo, a US Army[2] Europe and Africa base, where the drone was spotted hovering near is less than 30 miles from the border with Russia. It comes as Putin has been breathing down the neck of the Baltic state amid the ongoing war with Ukraine[3].
Two drones[4] were spotted in the area, with one blasted out of the sky, though it is unclear whether US forces were involved. The incident took place on October 17, but has only just come to light.
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It comes amid demands for a more robust response to Russia’s incursions in the area. Liis Vaksmann, spokesperson for the Estonian Defence Forces headquarters, said: “Allies detected drones flying in the immediate vicinity of the 2nd Infantry Brigade’s military base at 4.30pm on October 17, one of which was brought down with an anti-drone rifle.”
Estonian military and police forces hunted for the drone which had been shot down, but have failed to find it. Last month, three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finaldn, where they remained for 12 minutes.
Estonia is possibly NATO’s most vulnerable member threatened by Russian invasion. British troops are also stationed in Estonia, having been deployed to lead a NATO battlegroup under Operation Cabrit since 2017 as part of a multinational effort to deter Russian aggression.
The Reedo base hosts the US Army’s 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, an armoured reconnaissance unit. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said NATO must be prepared to intercept and shoot down aircraft violating sovereign airspace.
“The message must be unequivocal – future violations will meet a response — including, if necessary, the interception and downing of intruding aircraft,” said Marcus Tsahkna. “This is not only about defending Estonia’s borders — it’s about defending NATO’s borders.”
The incident was revealed as Ukraine staged massive strikes on Russia overnight, inflicting significant damage to oil and petrochemical facilities. One strike left an ATAN oil depot in flames in Hvardiiske in occupied Crimmea where a power plant was also reportedly hit in Simferopol.
The Mari Refinery was struck in Yoshkar-Ola, some 800 miles from the nearest Ukrainian territory. The NS-Oil Refinery in Novospassk, Ulyanovsk region was taken out – as Russia suffers crippling petrol price rises, and shortages of supplies due to a sustained Ukrainian campaign to bomb oil plants.
Major metro chemical plant Stavrolen enterprise, in Budyonnovsk, Stavropol region, was hit along with a power plant on the site. Russia staged strikes in Podilsk, Odesa region where a power station was hit.