Latvia delivers formal protest to Russia over drone border incident
Photo: Latvia lodges protest with Russia over drone border violation (Getty Images)
Latvia lodged an official protest with Russia over the violation of its airspace by a drone that entered from Russian territory during the night of March 25, according to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Details of the diplomatic protest
On March 25, 2026, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of Russia. The Russian embassy representative was handed a note formally condemning the drone incursion into Latvian airspace.
The Latvian side emphasized that Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine creates unpredictable security risks for the entire region.
"Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter," the MFA stressed.
Riga once again demanded that the Kremlin "cease aggression and withdraw Russian armed forces from all internationally recognized territory of Ukraine."
Response to attacks on Ukraine
During the meeting, Latvian diplomats also condemned the massive Russian airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine on March 24. This included attacks on the Lviv region, which affected civilians and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
"This forms part of Russia’s barbaric attack not only on the people of Ukraine, but also on Ukraine’s deep historical and cultural roots," the Latvian MFA stated, noting that these actions constitute a deliberate attempt to destroy Ukrainian identity.
Details about the drone that 'strayed' into Latvia
The Russian drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia during the night was reportedly equipped with explosives. According to Latvian military sources, the hostile UAV flew at low altitude, and its flight lasted 24 minutes.
Additionally, on March 25, Russian drones entered several Baltic countries. In Estonia, one drone crashed into a power plant chimney, while in Latvia, another drone exploded, with fragments later recovered at the site.
