Latvia declares air alert after Russian drones enter airspace
Latvia's border with Russia (Photo: REUTERS/Ints Kalnins)
Latvia declared an air alert after drones entered its airspace from Russia, with two unmanned aircraft crashing on Latvian territory, including one near an oil depot in the city of Rēzekne, LSM reported on May 7.
Authorities said air raid alerts were declared in the Balvi, Ludza and Rezekne districts because of the threat, but the military later announced that the alert had ended.
Latvia’s armed forces said they received signals overnight about a possible airspace violation. After confirming the information, they activated mobile air defense groups and NATO air policing forces.
The outlet reported that at about 05:30 a.m., the military confirmed that two drones had crashed on Latvian territory. Emergency services were dispatched to the crash sites, though only one location had been identified at the time.
One of the drones crashed near an oil storage facility in the city of Rezekne, about 40 kilometers from the Russian border. Police said they received a call around 03:30 a.m. reporting smoke at the site. Possible drone debris was found, and a criminal investigation was opened.
Rescue services later said inspections showed temperatures inside the oil tanks had not risen.
Journalists from Latvia’s public broadcaster near the oil depot also reported seeing another drone flying low above the ground.
Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said the situation in the Rēzekne district was serious. He said Latvian forces and NATO allies were maintaining maximum control over the airspace, with fighter jets already airborne.
Spruds stressed that Ukraine has the legitimate right to defend itself and strike targets inside Russia.
“At first glance, there is a possibility these were drones launched from the Ukrainian side toward targets in Russia. But this is only an assumption and the information still needs verification,” he added.
Because of the threat, schools and kindergartens in Rezekne and the surrounding Rēzekne and Ludza districts were closed.
On May 3, Latvia and Estonia also warned of a possible drone threat in border oblasts during a Russian attack on Ukraine. The alert was later lifted after no danger in the airspace was confirmed.
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