Russia invents 'Ukrainian strikes from Latvia': Riga and Kyiv respond
Illustrative photo: Russia launches a new fake narrative about Ukraine and Latvia (Getty Images)
Russia claims that Ukraine is allegedly preparing strikes against Russia from Latvian territory. Riga and Kyiv have categorically denied this information, according to a post by Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže on Twitter (X).
What Russia made up
Russian media, citing the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), began spreading claims that Ukraine was allegedly preparing attacks against Russia from Latvian territory and had already received permission from the Latvian authorities to do so.
Moscow also claimed that Ukrainian servicemen from the Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) had supposedly already arrived in Latvia.
In addition, the Russian side threatened that it allegedly knew the locations of Latvia’s "decision-making centers" and warned that the country’s NATO membership "would not serve as protection" in the event of such actions.
The SVR also stated that modern intelligence capabilities make it possible to determine the coordinates of drone launch sites if drones are launched from Latvian territory.
Latvia’s reaction
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže reacted to the statements by categorically rejecting Moscow’s accusations.
"Russia lies again! This time, it is SVR or the External Intelligence Service running a disinformation campaign against Latvia. Fact: Latvia does not provide airspace for attacks on Russia. That has been explained several times to Russian representatives," she said.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs also dismissed the Kremlin’s claims.
"Russia is lying about Latvia allowing any country to use Latvian airspace and territory to launch attacks against Russia or any other country," he stressed.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responds
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi also reacted to the Russian disinformation claims.
"There is no truth in Moscow’s latest set of falsehoods accusing Ukraine of preparing attacks against Russia from the territory of Latvia. We officially refute them," Tykhyi said.
He stressed that Ukraine does not use Latvia’s territory or airspace in its operations against Russia and has no intention of doing so.
"Russian lies are merely an extension of its broader propaganda campaign aimed at destabilising public opinion in Latvia and the wider Baltics. We thank our Latvian friends for seeing right through them," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson added.
The recent incursion of Ukrainian drones into Latvia led to the resignation of the defense minister and, later, the entire government.
At the same time, both Kyiv and the authorities of the Baltic states denied that drones had entered Russia from the territory of the Baltic countries. An investigation found that they had deviated from their course due to Russian electronic warfare systems.
