Latvian military officials have issued an emergency alert and deployed additional air defense units after an unidentified drone breached the country’s national airspace near the eastern border.
Military Alert and Civil Protection
The alert, initially covering several eastern municipalities, was extended to the Augsdaugava region. The military confirmed the presence of at least one foreign drone and stated that it is monitoring the situation alongside NATO allies.
Residents in the affected areas were urged to stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut, and follow the “two-wall” safety protocol. Authorities advised the public to avoid contact with any suspicious objects and to report sightings immediately by calling 112.
Ongoing Risks and NATO Monitoring
Latvian forces warned that similar incidents are likely to persist as long as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continues. Additional anti-aircraft units have been stationed along the border to bolster national security.
Recent months have seen an increase in long-range Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russia, including operations near the Baltic Sea. These actions have resulted in multiple incursions into NATO airspace, affecting Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
Regional Security Incidents
Lithuanian authorities recently declared an alert after a radar trace consistent with a drone was detected near the Belarusian border. NATO’s Air Policing mission was activated, and Vilnius airport operations were temporarily suspended as officials, including President Gitanas Nauseda, sought shelter.
In a separate event, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet operating under a NATO mission in Lithuania shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonian territory. Estonian officials confirmed the drone was neutralized near Lake Voertsjoarv, and the Ukrainian Defense Minister subsequently issued an apology for the incident.