Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melniks reported that on Friday, a drone crossed the country's air border from Belarus. In an interview with Latvian television, he noted that the origin of the device is still being established. According to the minister, Latvia intends to continue destroying drones that illegally enter its airspace. He emphasized that the decision to use force is made to protect residents and prevent potential threats. The incident occurred early in the morning near Lake Boževa, close to the municipality of Ruga in the Balvi region. The drone was shot down by NATO allied fighters over wooded terrain, approximately five kilometers from the center of the municipality. According to local authorities, no one was injured, and no property damage has been reported. Military personnel from the National Armed Forces, Zemessardze, State Police officers, and other emergency services continue to work at the crash site. The military points out that the device was destroyed at a high altitude, so its debris could have scattered over a significant area. This is why the examination of the area is ongoing. Preliminary data suggests that the drone entered Latvian airspace under the influence of electronic warfare systems used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. Final conclusions will be made by specialists after the investigation is completed. The incident occurred against the backdrop of large-scale attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian territory. On Friday morning, Russian authorities reported hundreds of drones shot down over various regions of the country, as well as a fire at the port of Ust-Luga following an attack in the Leningrad region. The Ukrainian side, in turn, reported strikes on energy infrastructure facilities in the occupied territories. This is not the first case where the consequences of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine affect the airspace of neighboring states. Therefore, Latvian authorities emphasize that violations of the state border will be suppressed regardless of the origin of the drone. The investigation is ongoing, and after examining the debris, it will be determined to whom the device belonged and how it ended up over Latvian territory.
