In light of the security drone incident and related questions
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, sixth sitting, press briefing.
Date: 2025-09-17 15:47
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 23
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 23/23 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today, the fourth question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was debated in the Riigikogu, concerning security in the context of a drone incident. The question was posed by Member of the Riigikogu Varro Vooglaid, and the central theme was the origin of the drone, its flight path, and questions regarding the potential use of Estonian airspace in light of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The incident occurred in the early hours of August 24th near Lake Võrtsjärv in Elva Parish, and the drone crashed; this raised questions about a deepening security situation, and that the military operations between Russia and Ukraine have reached the borders of Estonian territory. Unfortunately, conclusive evidence of the drone's penetration activities has not been publicly released, and the discussion revealed that public information is shared on a limited scale. Another significant topic was whether Estonia has granted Ukraine permission to use Estonian airspace to carry out offensive operations, and if the drone did enter Estonian airspace, what its trajectory might have been.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made at this session. When writing the minutes, it remains to be seen that the results of the investigation and official data will clarify the drone's precise origin and trajectory, and further steps.
Most Active Speaker
Varro Vooglaid – Member of the Riigikogu, a representative of a right-wing political viewpoint; the most active speaker in this session (with two addresses containing questions on the topics of drones, airspace, and security).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announces that we are proceeding. The fourth question is addressed to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, posed by Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid, concerning the security aspects of the drone incident and related matters.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the fourth item on the agenda is a question to be posed to Prime Minister Kristen Michal by Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid, concerning security in light of the drone incident and related topics.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid stressed the gravity of the attack drone incident that crashed in Tartumaa on August 24, arguing that it effectively brings the war onto Estonian territory, and demanded a public explanation from the government regarding the drone's flight trajectory, specifically asking if it has been completely ruled out that the drone originated from the territory of the Republic of Estonia.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid notes that the attack drone that crashed near Lake Võrtsjärv in the early morning of August 24 symbolizes the deepening security situation and raises two specific questions for the public: Did the drone definitely fly from Estonian territory, and if not, where and when did it enter Estonian airspace, and what was its flight path?
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that Russia's attack against Ukraine is the primary rationale for Estonia's security focus, and although an investigation is currently underway and Ukrainian drones have been mentioned, Estonia must strengthen its cyber capabilities and overall readiness against the threat of hybrid attacks and drones.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirms that Russia’s attacks against Ukraine are behind the ongoing investigation into the drone incident. She rejects the notion that the war has only now reached Estonia, pointing out that economic repercussions, environmental hazards in the Baltic Sea, and continuous hybrid operations—including cyberattacks—are evidence that the effects of Russian aggression have been felt in Estonia for a long time. She further calls for the state to continuously boost its readiness and cyber capabilities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar strongly urged his Riigikogu colleagues to switch their smartphones to silent mode, particularly during the use of videos and audio materials, in order to ensure the sitting and the information hour proceed without disruption. He then gave the floor to Varro Vooglaid.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked his colleagues, asking them to silence their phones during video and audio materials so as not to disrupt the information hour taking place in the Riigikogu hall. He then announced that they would proceed, and Varro Vooglaid has a clarifying question.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid demanded specific answers concerning whether a Ukrainian attack drone launched from Estonian territory, what its flight trajectory was, and whether the Government of the Republic of Estonia has granted Ukraine permission to use Estonian airspace for offensive operations. He simultaneously requested that the response avoid generalities and that his colleague Peeter Ernits refrain from interrupting him while he posed his questions.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid expresses his dissatisfaction that his questions were not substantively answered, and urgently demands specific clarification regarding the alleged Ukrainian attack drone: Is it ruled out that it launched from Estonian territory? What was its flight trajectory? And has the Republic of Estonia granted Ukraine permission to use its airspace for carrying out attack operations? He stresses that these are fundamental questions concerning national security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Before giving the floor to the Prime Minister, Chairman Lauri Hussar made a sincere plea to his colleagues—specifically naming Peeter Ernits and Varro Vooglaid—to stop listening to disruptive audio in the session hall that was interfering with the Q&A process, requesting that they take it outside the chamber.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar summarizes the request made by colleagues Ernits and Vooglaid and asks the Prime Minister not to interfere with the posing or answering of questions. He also notes that anyone wishing to listen to the audio should move outside the chamber, as it is disrupting the proceedings.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explained that, based on current data, it is improbable that the drone in question originated from Estonian territory, emphasizing that the Prosecutor's Office is thoroughly investigating all circumstances and the trajectory related to the incident and will share additional information when possible, while also confirming that the requested permission has not been granted.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Based on the current information, it is not probable that the drone originated from Estonian territory. The Prosecutor's Office is investigating the trajectory and all circumstances related to the drone and will share information when they have updates to provide. Furthermore, the specific permission you are requesting has not been granted.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked everyone and informed them that his colleague Martin Helme would be asking an additional question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and subsequently gave the floor to colleague Martin Helme to ask a supplementary question.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the Reform Party government of the failure of national defense and of a hidden agreement with Ukraine, under which Estonian territory could be used for warfare via drones, and demands answers regarding the drone's origin and its takeoff in Estonia.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the Reform Party government of failing to advance national defense and establish a sense of security. He cites, as an example, the government's inability to prevent Estonian airspace from being used for anti-Russian warfare, and suspects that the drone may have taken off from Estonia under a tacit agreement with the Ukrainians. This, he argues, contradicts the Estonian constitution and security interests. He demands clear answers from the government, rather than booming 'hurrah-patriotism.'
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman offers his thanks and addresses the Prime Minister with a request.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal rejected claims linking Estonia to the origin of Ukrainian drones, stressing that no such information exists. She further accused her opponent of baselessly criticizing Estonia's national defense and spreading Kremlin narratives, emphasizing that the cause of the war is aggression by Putin’s Russia, not actions taken by Ukraine, and called for an end to the production of Kremlin narratives.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that the allegations presented lack evidence and that the prosecutor's office is currently conducting an investigation. He affirmed that Estonia is contributing more to national defense than ever before, stating that the reason for this is Putin’s Russia, and asked people not to spread Kremlin narratives suggesting that Ukrainian drones are coming from Estonia or that Estonia is secretly launching attacks.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked everyone and announced that today's discussion on the fourth item was concluded.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked the attendees and announced that the consideration of the fourth item on the agenda for the current sitting was hereby concluded.