Inquiry Regarding the Explosion of an Attack Drone on the Territory of Estonia (No. 810)
Session: XV Riigikogu, VI Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-11-10 18:37
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 61
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 1m
AI Summaries: 61/61 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The item on the agenda addressed the interpellation submitted by members of the Riigikogu to Prime Minister Kristen Michal concerning the attack drone explosion in Koruste village, Elva municipality, Tartumaa County, in August 2025. The interpellation was introduced by Mart Helme, who emphasized the inadequacy of the explanations provided to the public and raised questions regarding Estonia's air surveillance capability and the incident's connection to the war in Ukraine. Helme highlighted the suspicion that the drone was Ukrainian, targeting Russian strategic objects, but ended up in Estonia due to jamming.
Prime Minister Michal responded to 11 questions, confirming that the drone did not launch from Estonian territory and that Ukraine has not been granted permission to use Estonian airspace for offensive operations. Michal blamed Russia for the incident and, regarding the shortcomings in drone detection, referred to the 2019 decisions to cut the border construction budget, indirectly blaming former Finance Minister Martin Helme. In the subsequent debate, EKRE members (Martin Helme, Mart Helme, Rain Epler, and others) accused the government and the Reform Party of incompetence in developing national defense, particularly air and drone defense, despite the increased defense budget. Mart Helme and Peeter Ernits speculated that Estonia might have been aware of Ukrainian drones flying toward Russian targets, referencing the simultaneous closure of Tallinn Airport. The Prime Minister defended the government's actions, emphasizing historically large defense investments and rejecting accusations of avoiding responsibility.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Mart Helme (EKRE) was extremely active, presenting the inquiry, posing questions, and delivering lengthy speeches during the debate, sharply criticizing the government's actions regarding national defense (right-wing).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar, who is presiding over the Riigikogu session, introduces the fourth item on the agenda. This item is an interpellation submitted to Prime Minister Kristen Michal by several members of the Riigikogu (including Martin, Helle-Moonika, and Mart Helme) concerning the explosion of an attack drone that took place on Estonian territory. He then asks Mart Helme to introduce the interpellation, given Martin Helme's absence.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme submitted an interpellation to Kristen Michal concerning the fragments of an attack drone and an explosion crater discovered in August 2025 in Koruste village, Tartu County. This discovery likely points to a side effect of the military activities in Ukraine affecting Estonia. He stressed that the public has not been provided with sufficient explanations and demanded exhaustive answers to 11 questions. The goal was to clarify both the background of the incident and the deficiencies in Estonia's radar capabilities regarding the detection of low-flying foreign reconnaissance and attack drones.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and invited Prime Minister Kristen Michal to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the submitted query.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed in response to inquiries that the incident involving an attack drone launched from Estonian territory is ruled out, and the blame lies with Russia, which is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine; although the failure to detect the drone was partially caused by earlier budget cuts to border construction and surveillance, he emphasized that Estonia's security situation and threat level have not changed because of the incident.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister, noted that he still had questions, and subsequently gave the floor to the next questioner, Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits has addressed the Prime Minister to seek clarification on whether Estonia has granted Ukraine official permission to use its airspace for the movement of attack drones aimed at Russian targets, citing a known incident where a drone entered Estonian territory via Latvia.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that she had already answered the repetitive, substantively identical questions for the fourth time with a short and concrete denial.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Mart Helme, calling upon him to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme is stepping up to defend Martin Helme against Kristen Michal’s accusations regarding the lack of air defense, explaining that money had been offered for air defense but the then Commander of the Defence Forces, Martin Herem, rejected it. He concludes by asking whether the Estonian Defence Forces were aware of or received a warning about the Ukrainian drone attack on the Ust-Luga port.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar confined himself to a brief procedural remark, giving the floor to the speaker and thereby signaling the start of the time allocated for the address.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme draws attention to the attacks on Russian targets in the immediate vicinity, which requires Estonia to be prepared, noting as a suspicious coincidence that the operations of Tallinn Airport were allegedly disrupted simultaneously.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded his presentation with a brief expression of thanks.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme is drawing attention to the temporary closure caused by poor planning, and he asks directly whether the opposing side possessed prior knowledge or information regarding potential flight operations by Ukrainian drones.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked Mart Helme and then handed the floor over to the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal corrects the previous speaker, stressing that the facts are inaccurate, and confirms that the need for drone and camera capabilities in the construction of the border was known already during the tenure of the then Minister of Finance, Martin Helme, citing earlier plans reported in ERR news.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Varro Vooglaid to the podium, giving him the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid dismissed as ludicrous the attempt to blame the failure to detect Russian attack drones on decisions made in 2019, emphasizing instead the government’s responsibility starting from 2021. He subsequently demanded clarification as to why the information concerning the drone’s entry route and trajectory into Estonian airspace has been classified, questioning whether this information has actually been identified and why it is being withheld from the public.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal gave an overview of the construction of the eastern border infrastructure, confirming that 105 kilometers of delay fencing and 100% technical surveillance, including drone monitoring, will be largely completed by the end of 2025, and explained that security-related information is protected, but the relevant committees of the Riigikogu were already briefed on the situation on September 20.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Rain Epler to the podium or gave him the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler sharply criticized the government's inaction on establishing a medium-range air defense capability, using the national defense report to highlight how initiatives from both 2020 and 2021 were rejected and that they have failed to achieve initial operational capability even by 2023. He wrapped up by questioning the incompetence of the prime minister and the coalition.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal rejected criticism regarding defense investments, emphasizing that during his tenure as prime minister, these have grown to 3–3.5%, exceeding the previous 2% recommendation. He added that next year, this level will reach a historic high of 5%, which is why he considered the person posing the question to be profoundly mistaken when raising the topic of increasing defense investments.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Evelin Poolamets.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets criticizes the government for failing to grasp the seriousness of the incident, pointing out that security policy cannot rely solely on the luck that the drone happened to fall on an empty field. She demands concrete plans to restore public safety and establish a functional early warning and crisis communication system.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that significant effort and large sums are being invested in developing the civil defense system and drone detection capabilities, particularly at low flight altitudes. He emphasized that while drone incidents are possible in Europe—and NATO has already shot down Russia-linked drones in Poland—the root cause of these incidents is Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, meaning the solution lies in applying stronger pressure on Russia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Martin Helme to the podium to begin his presentation.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the government of concealing the lack of actual defense capabilities and readiness by focusing on discussions of money and percentages. He then lists the historical mistakes of the Reform Party, starting with the disbanding of military intelligence in 2007 and the merger of the border guard with the police, and extending to the delay in establishing air defense, demanding that the ruling party finally accept responsibility for the state instead of shifting the blame onto others.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar delivered a brief, formal introduction before giving the floor to the Prime Minister, announcing that the Prime Minister's speaking time had commenced.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal is responding to the issue of the border guard's drone capabilities, citing the opposition, who referred to similar capabilities as "bells and whistles" in 2019. He stresses that the Reform Party and the government feel responsible for security, having actually allocated additional funds to the border, whereas his opponents previously chose to cut funding from the border.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Anti Poolamets was called to the podium by Chairman Lauri Hussar to deliver his presentation.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets expresses disappointment with the Prime Minister's answers, criticizing her for focusing on Russia as the root cause instead of providing specific and precise explanations regarding how Estonia's surveillance and drone downing capabilities have actually improved following the recent drone incident that endangered human lives, despite the significant sums allocated in the Ministry of Defence budget for enhancing drone capabilities.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal praised the questioner for clearly naming Russia and Putin's war as the cause of regional security problems, which justifies the growth in defense expenditures. He then explained the organization of air surveillance, where responsibility is divided between the Defense Forces (for nationwide surveillance) and the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board, responsible for borders), while simultaneously stressing the need to enhance information exchange between allies and agencies for rapid response to the threat posed by unmanned vehicles. Finally, he mentioned the development of drone defense capabilities, including participation in the European project "Eastern Flank Watch," aimed at strengthening the defense of the eastern border.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi and Rene Kokk were called to the rostrum to begin their presentation.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk addressed the minister, asking whether any more parts of attack drones have been discovered on Estonian territory, in addition to the incident currently under discussion, and whether those corresponding incidents are currently under investigation.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) informs the public about similar findings and recalled a recent incident where parts of an attack drone were found on Pärnu beach, emphasizing that more detailed information about the incident is within the PPA's competence.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Helle-Moonika Helme, inviting her to the podium to deliver her presentation.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is criticizing the government and the Ministry of Defence for the irresponsible spending of taxpayer money (5% of GDP). She points out that three years after the start of the war in Ukraine, Estonia still critically lacks the capability to detect attack drones. She compares the situation to the absurd money-wasting reality show "How to Spend a Billion," where the money is flowing out, but there are zero results or actual capabilities gained.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded his brief address with a word of thanks.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme urgently stressed the necessity of accountability, reiterating the question of who should be held responsible and how.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explains that even though the need for drones and the capability to detect them was known as far back as 2019—when the decision was made to cut costs—the government is nevertheless committed to developing the border infrastructure and will ensure the border is 100 percent covered by various surveillance capabilities.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi's introduction was limited to inviting Arvo Aller to the podium and yielding the floor to him with the phrase, "Arvo Aller, please!"
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller criticized the respondent to the query, stating that they avoided the question of responsibility concerning the drone's fate by smoothly slipping into the past (referencing the events of 2019), and he urgently demands that the focus be placed on who is currently responsible for the existence of Estonia's anti-attack drone combat weapon.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that despite previous delays stemming from the 2019 funding decision, the current government has secured the necessary resources for the construction of the eastern border. She confirmed that the core infrastructure of the land border, including 105 kilometers of delay fencing, will be completed by the end of 2025, and the objective is to achieve full technical surveillance readiness within the next two years.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the Prime Minister, declared the round of questions closed, and subsequently opened the debate, giving the floor first to Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme thanked the assembly and requested three minutes of extra time, just in case, to continue his address.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi limited himself to a brief confirmation that eight minutes were allotted for the address.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme is accusing the Reform Party and the Prime Minister of the complete failure of Estonian security, emphasizing that despite the government's grand promises and massive spending, the country still lacks medium-range air and drone defense capabilities. Furthermore, he points out that the Reform Party has historically (in 2007 and 2009) weakened intelligence services and dismantled the border guard. The speaker accuses the Prime Minister of resorting to demagoguery and trolling in an attempt to conceal the government's incompetence, especially when contrasted with the eastern border that was actually built during the government in which EKRE participated.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded his address with a brief thank you and then yielded the floor to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses the Reform Party of failing to ensure national security and expresses strong suspicion that the government was knowingly informed and provided Ukraine with a corridor in Estonian airspace for the purpose of attacking Russian strategic targets. As proof, he points to the simultaneous coincidence of a drone incident, the Ust-Luga attack, and the closure of Tallinn Airport under a "childish pretext," concluding that Estonia was knowingly part of the operational area.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi made only a brief comment, either requesting or being granted three additional minutes to continue his speech.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stresses the necessity of being prepared for security incidents, but primarily focuses on sharp criticism aimed at the Reform Party. He defends his government’s decision to terminate overpriced and unnecessary drone projects and redirect the funds toward building a genuine border control line, accusing his opponents of incompetence, bureaucratic obstruction, and wasting state money, citing the example of a poorly dug anti-tank ditch.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience and then gave the floor to the next speaker, Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler sharply criticizes Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’s answers and conduct in the Riigikogu, deeming them pointless and hollow. He further argues that the Prime Minister’s actions confirm the harsh criticism outlined in the draft national defense report concerning the central government’s weak strategic leadership and inter-ministerial fragmentation. Finally, he expresses the ironic hope that Kristen Michal, who is vying to become the new leader of the Reform Party, will ultimately lead the party to ruin.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded his address with brief thanks and subsequently handed the floor over to Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid sharply criticized the Prime Minister’s responses regarding the Lake Võrtsjärv drone incident, deeming the accusation that EKRE was responsible for the lack of drone detection capability as childish and condemning the assessment by the Defense Forces Intelligence Centre that the security situation had not significantly changed. While he acknowledged the clear answers ruling out the drone being launched from Estonia and confirming the absence of attack permits for Ukraine, he urgently demanded clear confirmation from the government as to whether Ukraine intentionally used Estonian airspace or if the drone entered the area solely due to Russian jamming. Furthermore, he expressed hope that he would be able to review the promised classified flight path documents in the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience and then gave the floor to the next speaker, Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits, citing his personal and repeated experience at the crater of the drone explosion that occurred near Lake Võrtsjärv, sharply criticized the government's claims that national security was in "firm hands," deeming these claims unreliable and the government's vision dim. He demanded that the Riigikogu cease being a "miserable rubber stamp" and begin substantively scrutinizing the government's work, following the precedent set by the generals' report, thereby reclaiming power for the parliament.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi made a brief intervention to draw the colleague's attention to the fact that his allotted six minutes were about to expire, simultaneously asking if he had concluded.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits agrees to grant a short extension, but immediately stresses that this exception does not apply to everyone.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi made a brief procedural request, seeking two additional minutes for his presentation.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits sharply criticizes Estonia's security shortcomings, highlighting the lack of shelters and threat prevention, and especially the absence of technological means (sensors that detect the whine of drones). He emphasizes that although cheap solutions exist, they were still missing at the end of August, resulting in an uncertain security situation and Kristen Michal having shaky hands.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi closed the debate and informed his colleagues that the handling of the fourth item on the agenda had thereby been concluded.