Russian drones enter NATO airspace, one hits oil tank in Latvia
Photo: Russian drones violated Latvian airspace (Valsts policija)
Several drones entered Latvian airspace from Russia overnight. One of them crashed into an oil storage tank in the city of Rēzekne, according to Latvian outlet Delfi.
What happened overnight in Rēzekne
At around 3:30 a.m., Latvia’s emergency service 112 began receiving calls about a possible fire at an oil depot on Komunala Street in Rēzekne. Firefighters arrived at the scene and found no open flames, although one of the tanks was being cooled.
Head of the Rēzekne regional council, Guntars Skudra, confirmed that one of the drones fell on the territory of the East-West Transit branch in Rēzekne. It struck an empty oil storage tank.
Residents of Rēzekne reported hearing engine noises in the sky, sounds resembling explosions, and flashes of light. Videos showing fiery flashes above the city also appeared online.
Second drone still being searched for
Deputy head of Latvia’s State Police Andris Zellis said authorities know of two drones that crashed. The location of the second one is still being determined.
“The fire has been contained, there is no threat,” Zellis said. Latvia’s State Police has launched a criminal investigation to clarify all circumstances surrounding the incident.
At 4:09 a.m., residents of the Ludza, Balvi, and Rēzekne districts received alerts about a possible threat in Latvian airspace. At 4:43 a.m., the same warning was sent to residents of Rēzekne.
As previously reported by RBC-Ukraine, nearly two dozen Russian drones violated Polish airspace in September 2025.
The foreign ministers of Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine condemned the incident and called for an urgent strengthening of air defense on NATO and EU’s eastern flank.
In late April 2026, a drone also crashed onto the roof of a residential high-rise in central Chișinău. Moldovan police evacuated residents from the upper floors and sent the object for examination.
