What happened
A Ukrainian drone hit the Russian corvette Naro-Fominsk in the northern Gulf of Finland, according to Commodore (ret.) Jüri Saska, former commander of the Estonian Navy. The vessel remained afloat and reached port under its own power.
Saska, speaking on Estonian public broadcaster ERR's Ringvaade program, said the strike demonstrates that drone warfare has reached a new level, with the ability to hit moving ships at long range. He noted that Ukrainian forces can reportedly redirect drones in real time, retarget them, and conduct repeated attacks.
The former commander said Russia has increased its naval presence in the Gulf of Finland since he left the service in 2024. He described Russian warships as escorting the country's shadow fleet oil traffic, with a message to other regional actors not to interfere.
Saska said the Naro-Fominsk was not positioned as part of air defenses for the port of Ust-Luga and has limited self-defense against mass drone attacks. He added that Russian vessels have taken countermeasures such as installing nets, relocating ships, and repainting them, but no measure can fully rule out future strikes.
He stressed that the drone did not pass through Estonian airspace or maritime territory, though he could not specify its exact origin. Saska said tensions in the Gulf of Finland will not ease as long as Russia depends on Baltic oil channels to sustain its war effort.
