By Estonian World / March 25, 2026 / Leave a Comment / Security / 2 minutes of reading

A drone arriving from Russian airspace struck the chimney of the Auvere power plant in north-eastern Estonia in the early hours of Wednesday, in a stark sign of how the war in Ukraine is sending dangerous fallout towards Nato’s frontier.

No one was injured in the incident and Estonia’s electricity system was not damaged, according to the authorities and the energy company Enefit Power that operates the plant.

The Estonian Internal Security Service said the drone hit the plant’s chimney at 3.43am on 25 March. Rescue Board explosive ordnance disposal specialists were sent to the scene, while the Office of the Prosecutor General opened proceedings and the Internal Security Service began an investigation.

Astrid Asi, Estonia’s prosecutor general, said that, based on current information, the drone had not been directed at Estonia.

“Initial procedures are now under way, and the investigation will establish the precise circumstances,” she said in a statement.

The incident came amid reports that Ukraine had launched overnight drone attacks on the Russian port of Ust-Luga in Leningrad Oblast. Estonian officials indicated that the object that struck Auvere was linked to the wider consequences of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, rather than to any deliberate attempt to target Estonia.

“This is one of the effects of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression. It is reasonable to assume that we will see more incidents of this kind,” said Margo Palloson, director general of the Internal Security Service.

Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Estonia’s justice minister, told the public broadcaster ERR on Wednesday morning that the government would convene for an extraordinary session in response to the security incident.

Enefit Power said its preliminary assessment showed no immediate damage to the plant and no significant effect on Estonia’s electricity system.

The Internal Security Service has appealed for anyone who may have seen the drone to come forward with information by email. It also urged the public not to approach the scene or any debris, warning that the wreckage could contain explosive material. Any finds should be reported by calling the emergency number 112.

Estonian officials also said that a fallen drone had been reported in Latvia, in the village of Dobročina.

(C)ESTONIAN WORLD 2026