Latvia declares air alert for third straight day, air defenses moved to border
Photo: Latvia has been under an air raid alert for the third day in a row (Getty Images)
For the third day in a row, Latvia has issued an air raid alert due to the threat of drones and is strengthening its air defenses along its eastern border, according to the Latvian Armed Forces.
The National Armed Forces confirmed that at least one drone is in the country’s airspace. As a result, fighter jets from the NATO mission patrolling the Baltic airspace were scrambled.
The threat was declared in the Ludza, Rēzekne, Krāslava, and Augšdaugava districts.
The military emphasizes that, together with NATO allies, they are constantly monitoring the airspace and are ready to respond immediately to any threats.
"We have strengthened air defense capabilities along the eastern border by deploying additional units," the statement says.
The Latvian military also warns that as long as Russia's war against Ukraine continues, similar incidents involving foreign drones entering or approaching the country’s airspace may recur.
Residents were urged not to go outside, to find a safe place inside a building as quickly as possible, and to follow the two-wall rule.
According to the Delfi news outlet, warnings about a threat to airspace in Latgale have been issued for the third consecutive day.
Drones in Latvia
On the morning of May 7, two Ukrainian drones crashed into an oil storage facility in the Latvian city of Rēzekne. They had flown in from the direction of Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that the drones lost control due to Russian electronic warfare systems, which deliberately diverted the Ukrainian drones away from their targets in Russia.
The drone incursion led to the resignation of the Latvian Defense Minister and, subsequently, the entire government.
On the morning of May 17, Latvian authorities again warned of a potential threat in the country’s airspace, particularly in areas bordering Russia, due to the appearance of an unidentified drone.
On May 19, Russian media outlets reported, citing the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, that Ukrainian drones were allegedly preparing to launch an attack from Latvian territory. These claims were categorically denied in Riga and Kyiv.
