Fighter jets shoot down drone that entered Latvian airspace; threat has ended

RIGA - Early Friday morning, allied fighter jets successfully shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that had entered Latvian airspace, thereby ending the threat posed by the drone, according to the National Armed Forces (NBS).

The drone was shot down at high altitude over Rugaji village in Balvu Municipality, Iveta Berzina, a spokesperson for the Joint Staff of the National Armed Forces (NBS), said in an interview on the Latvian Television.

According to currently available information, the drone entered Latvian airspace as a result of electromagnetic warfare conducted by Russia.

NBS soldiers, National Guard members, and State Police officers are involved in surveying the scene of the incident.

Since the drone was shot down at a high altitude, its debris could be scattered over a wide area, Berzina noted.

As reported, residents of the Augadaugava, Preili, Rezekne, Balvi, and Aluksne municipalities were warned early Friday morning about the threat to airspace.

The NBS noted that fighter jets from NATO’s Baltic airspace patrol mission were activated.

LETA previously reported, early this summer, residents in Latgale and Vidzeme received multiple cell phone alerts about a potential airspace threat; in addition, several drones crashed and exploded in Latvia.

These drone incidents were most likely related to drones involved in the Russia-Ukraine war approaching or entering Latvian airspace.

In early August, the news portal 15min.lt reported on information available to Lithuania’s military intelligence service indicating that Russia is considering attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic states using Ukrainian drones.