Latvian PM Evika Silina resigns over Ukrainian drone incidents and coalition collapse
Consensus Summary
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned on May 14, 2026, after her coalition collapsed following the sacking of Defence Minister Andris Spruds over the handling of Ukrainian drones straying into Latvian airspace. The incident on May 7, where drones caused a fire at an oil storage site, exposed weaknesses in Latvia’s air defence systems. Silina blamed Spruds for failing to deploy anti-drone measures quickly enough, but his allies in the Progressive party accused her of scapegoating him, leading to their withdrawal from the coalition. With only 41 seats remaining in parliament, Silina’s government lost its majority, prompting her resignation. President Edgars Rinkevics will now meet party leaders to form a new government. The crisis comes amid escalating drone attacks across the Baltic region, with Ukraine offering to assist Latvia’s air defences. Meanwhile, Hungary’s new government condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine, marking a shift from its previous stance, while Poland and Slovakia took security measures in response to recent drone threats.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned on May 14, 2026, after her coalition partner, the left-wing Progressive party, withdrew support over the sacking of Defence Minister Andris Spruds.
- Silina sacked Defence Minister Andris Spruds on May 12, 2026, citing failures in Latvia’s anti-drone systems after Ukrainian drones strayed into Latvian territory on May 7, 2026.
- Nine members of the Progressive party quit the coalition after Spruds’s sacking, leaving the government with 41 seats in the 100-seat parliament.
- Ukrainian drones crashed or flew over Latvia on May 7, 2026, with one causing a fire at a disused oil storage site in eastern Latvia.
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered to send experts to Latvia to help with air defences and prepare a long-term air defence accord.
- Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics will meet party leaders on May 15, 2026, to discuss forming a new government.
- Silina stated in her resignation announcement: 'The most important thing for me is the wellbeing of Latvians and the security of our country.'
- Hungary summoned Russia’s ambassador on May 14, 2026, to condemn a Russian drone attack on Ukraine that killed at least six people.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Armands Krauze, the agriculture minister, was briefly detained on May 14, 2026, by Latvia’s anti-corruption body KNAB over state aid to forestry firms.
- Silina proposed a military officer as Spruds’s replacement, but the Progressive party rejected the nominee.
- A Ukrainian drone fell in Latvia on March 25, 2026, marking an earlier incident of drone intrusions.
- Silina had been prime minister since September 2023.
- The Progressive party alleged Silina made Spruds a 'scapegoat' for the drone incidents.
- Hungary’s new prime minister, Péter Magyar, condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine, marking a shift from his predecessor Viktor Orbán’s pro-Moscow stance.
- Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to the Russian drone attack on Ukraine, while Slovakia closed its border with Ukraine 'for security reasons'.
- Moldova reported a Russian drone crossed into its airspace and flew for about 180 miles.
- Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, stated the drone intrusions were 'the result of Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia'.
- The Guardian described the Latvian government as 'centre-right' and the Progressive party as 'left-leaning'.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states Silina sacked Spruds on Sunday (May 12), while the Guardian does not specify the day but confirms the sacking occurred before the resignation on Thursday (May 14).
- The ABC mentions Silina’s party is called 'Unity party,' while the Guardian refers to it as 'New Unity party.'
- The ABC reports Silina proposed a military officer as Spruds’s replacement, but the Guardian does not mention this detail.
Source Articles
Latvian PM resigns in row over stray Ukrainian drones
Drones launched by Ukraine that were jammed by Russia either flew over or crashed in the Baltic country's territory, with local residents critical of the government's response.
Latvian prime minister resigns amid row over drone incursions
Evika Siliņa stands down after coalition collapses following sacking of defence minister Latvia’s centre-right prime minister has resigned over her government’s handling of Ukrainian drones that strayed into Latvian territory from Russia, bringing down her coalition government months before elections due in October. Evika Siliņa announced her resignation on Thursday, a day after the Progressives party, her left-leaning coalition partner, withdrew its support over her decision to fire the defence