Russia Threatens Devastating Response In Baltic After NATO Baltic Air-Policing Mission

Russia threatened a “devastating” response to any hostile action against it in the Baltic region, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying at her weekly briefing that “Russia's response to the instigators of reckless anti-Russian ventures will be decisive.”

“Russia's response to the instigators of reckless anti-Russian ventures will be decisive”

London Business News

The warning came hours after NATO activated its Baltic air-policing mission following drone incursions near Estonia, prompting fighter jets from Latvia under the mission.

Image: DIE WELT

DW reported that drones triggered a brief NATO response at Estonia's border with Russia, while NATO scrambled military aircraft due to a possible air threat in Latvia's airspace near the town of Ludza.

DW also said Russia’s military struck two cargo ships carrying military goods in the port of Pivdennyi, near the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, and in the Black Sea.

In the same reporting, Ukraine’s air force said Russia struck at least 28 locations in overnight attacks on Kyiv and Odesa.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said NATO had responded “according to established procedures” and remained prepared to defend allied territory, adding that “The alliance reacted swiftly and exactly as planned.”

Tsahkna framed the confrontation as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, saying incidents like the drone incursions “underline the need to increase pressure on Russia to end its aggression.”

Image: DW

DW reported that Zakharova said Russia’s response would be decisive and “it will be devastating for them,” while also noting that it was not clear what she was referring to after a fire broke out at Russia's Baltic port of Ust-Luga following a drone attack.

In separate reporting, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also reiterated that “Russia’s response to those who incite reckless anti-Russian initiatives will be decisive,” and that “this response will be devastating for them.”

The DW account placed the Baltic warning alongside EU defense ministers’ discussion of Ukraine’s shortage of interceptor missiles, with EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas saying “July and August have been the deadliest months for civilians in Ukraine.”

The DW report tied the Baltic tensions to a broader pattern of energy and military targeting, saying a Russian strike caused damage to a thermal power plant in the region of Odesa, southern Ukraine, according to state energy company Naftogaz.

“Kyiv and Moscow have been exchanging blows in the past 24 hours”

DW

DW also said Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that a strike by the Ukrainian army hit Russia's Novatek oil complex in the region of Leningrad, as Kyiv and Moscow exchanged blows in the past 24 hours.

On the Baltic flank, DW said the situation included NATO aircraft scrambling due to a possible air threat in Latvia's airspace near the town of Ludza, close to the Russian border, while also describing Russia’s threat of a “devastating” response.

In the EU policy arena, DIE WELT said the “common approach against the shadow fleet” would be a central topic during consultations of EU defense ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, and quoted Sebastian Hartmann saying “The European Union acts in unison when we want to enforce sanctions there.”

DIE WELT further described Russia’s “shadow fleet” as including tankers and cargo ships used to circumvent sanctions, and said Moscow tries to bypass a Western price cap on Russian oil exports to third countries.