Latvian authorities probe drone incidents linked to Russia-Ukraine war

07 May 2026 , 10:35

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Latvian authorities probe drone incidents linked to Russia-Ukraine war

Several drones have crashed in Latvia after entering the airspace of the Baltic EU and NATO country from Russia, according to military sources. According to the armed forces, two unmanned flying objects came down in the eastern Latgale region on Thursday night.

Military, police, and fire department units are on the scene. There were initially no reports of casualties. It initially remained unclear whether the drones were Russian or Ukrainian. However, the incidents coincided with Ukrainian drone attacks on targets in Russia.

According to the emergency services, it is possible that one of the drones crashed into an oil storage facility in the city of Rezekne. According to Latvian television, citing the fire department, there was initially no sign of major damage.

Latvia borders Russia and Belarus to the east. Residents of the regions close to the border had received cell phone warnings during the night about a possible threat to the airspace. According to the army, several drones had flown into Latvia.

Ukraine has been defending itself against the invasion of its neighbor Russia for more than four years. In the course of the fighting, drones have become an increasingly popular means of attack for both sides, as they can be deployed relatively cheaply and in large numbers to overwhelm the enemy’s air defenses. The aircraft, which are often fought with electronic jamming equipment, also pose a threat to neighboring countries. In recent Ukrainian attacks, for example, misguided drones have repeatedly flown into the airspace of the Baltic states and in some cases crashed after attacking targets in north-western Russia.

Elizabeth Baker

Technology & Business Editor