Aerial threat prompts widespread alerts in Estonia

Estonia’s Defence Forces issued a series of early-morning alerts on June 3, warning of a potential aerial threat across multiple regions, before cancelling the alert less than two hours later, according to the public broadcaster ERR.

The first warning was sent to residents in Lääne-Viru and Ida-Viru counties, with authorities later expanding the alert to include Tartu, Jõgeva, Viljandi, Valga, Võru and Põlva counties as the situation developed.

At around 4:00 a.m. local time, officials indicated that the threat in Lääne-Virumaa and Ida-Virumaa was no longer active. However, at 4:18 a.m., the state information hotline told ERR that the aerial threat in the region remained in place.

A further update at 4:26 a.m. extended the warning to additional southern and central regions — Tartumaa, Jõgevamaa, Viljandimaa, Valgamaa, Võrumaa and Põlvamaa — with residents advised to seek shelter if they observed drones.

The alert was lifted at 5:52 a.m., when the Defence Forces confirmed that the aerial threat had been cancelled.

Several residents in the southeastern town of Võru reported hearing early-morning noise that may have been linked to a drone, according to ERR.

Despite the alerts, authorities said the situation in eastern and southern Estonia did not affect operations at Tallinn Airport.

By Tamilla Hasanova