NATO Jets Shoot Down Foreign Drone in Latvian Airspace

Following Russian electromagnetic warfare, NATO Baltic Air Policing jets successfully shot down a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle in Latvia’s Balvi district on Friday morning.

Latvian Airspace Incident and Drone Downing

“In Latvian airspace, in the Balvi district, NATO Baltic Air Policing fighters successfully shot down a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle that flew into Latvia as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare,” the Latvian Ministry of Defense reported on Friday after 4:00 AM.

“At the same time, the National Armed Forces reported that the reported airspace threats in the districts of Augšdaugava, Preili, Rēzekne, Balvi, and Alūksne ceased at 04:50 local time,” the report states.

Latvia. NATO fighters shot down a drone.

Earlier, after 3:00 AM Polish time, the Latvian army informed citizens about an “air threat in the airspace of the Augšdaugava, Preili, Rēzekne, and Balvi districts.”

“Go to a room, follow the ‘two walls’ rule! Follow official communications. If you notice a low-flying or suspicious object, do not approach it and call 112!” it was stated. The described “two walls” rule consists of taking shelter in a room without windows that is separated from the external wall by at least one more wall (e.g., a bathroom).

Before 4:00 AM, Latvian forces reported that “the threat in the airspace had ceased” and “allied fighters had shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that flew into the airspace.”

Airspace Violations in Poland and Romania

Recall that Polish airspace was violated on the night of July 29-30. A Russian Kh-101 cruise missile fell near the town of Tarnawa-Kolonia in the Lublin Voivodeship. The incident occurred during a massive Russian attack on western Ukraine. The District Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin established that the missile contained explosives “in a significant amount.”

Polish F-16 fighters were dispatched to secure Polish airspace, supported, among others, by Polish and allied reconnaissance planes and NATO air tankers from a base in Germany.

Meanwhile, between July 24 and 26, the Romanian Air Force shot down three Shahed-type military drones. All three combat missions were carried out by F-16 fighter pilots. The Romanians were supported by Italian Eurofighters as part of the NATO Air Policing mission. On Tuesday, August 11, the Ministry of Defense in Bucharest reported that Romanian military divers destroyed two Gerbera-type drones drifting in Romania’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project, about 165 km from Constanța. Gerbera are unmanned aerial vehicles produced by Russia.

NATO Response and Condemnation of Russia

On Wednesday, the North Atlantic Council condemned Russia in connection with the airspace violations in Poland and Romania, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said on Wednesday after a meeting of representatives of the Alliance’s member states. Hart noted that allies “condemned Russia for its reckless actions,” “expressed solidarity with the allies affected [by the incidents],” and “reaffirmed unwavering support for Ukraine.” “NATO continues to increase its ability to deter and defend against any aggression,” Hart declared.