Home / War and Conflict / Latvia Detects Russian & Ukrainian Drones Near Borders
Latvia Detects Russian & Ukrainian Drones Near Borders
3 Nov
Summary
- Latvia identified one drone as Russian and another as Ukrainian.
- NATO fighter jets were activated due to airspace threats.
- Drone incursions raise concerns of Ukraine war spillover into NATO.
Latvia's armed forces announced that two drones recently breached the country's airspace, with one suspected to be of Russian origin and the other Ukrainian. Security alerts were issued for areas bordering Belarus and Russia, prompting calls for residents to seek shelter.
In response to these threats, NATO activated its air policing mission, deploying fighter jets. This event is part of a pattern of military drones, primarily Ukrainian, straying into the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The drone believed to be Russian was a Geran-type model and reportedly returned across the border. The Ukrainian drone crashed on Latvian soil but has not yet been recovered.
These incursions raise concerns about the conflict in Ukraine spilling over into NATO member states. Ukraine's long-range drone attacks on Russian targets, including Baltic Sea oil ports, have sometimes resulted in drones missing their intended destinations and entering neighboring countries' airspace.
