The National Armed Forces reported the elimination of a possible threat in the airspace of Latvia. This is already the second case on Monday where the military had to introduce and then lift a state of heightened readiness in the eastern regions of the country.
The National Armed Forces (NAF) reported that the previously announced possible threat to the airspace of Latvia has been eliminated.
The last warning was issued on Monday at 11:23 and affected the Rezekne, Balvi, Ludza, and Kraslava regions, as well as the city of Rezekne. Later, a threat mode for the airspace was introduced for part of the territory, including the Kraslava and Ludza regions.
Currently, the restrictions have been lifted, and the military reported that the danger has been eliminated.
This is already the second such incident today. In the morning, a warning was in effect in the Aluksne, Ludza, Balvi, and Rezekne regions, as well as in Rezekne.
It was later reported that French fighters participating in the NATO mission to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states destroyed a foreign drone in Latgale between Rezekne and Karsava.
According to the NAF, the drone entered the airspace of Latvia due to the influence of Russian electronic warfare systems.
What is important to know: this is the first confirmed case of the destruction of a foreign drone that invaded the airspace of Latvia since the beginning of such incidents in the region.
Around 10:30, the military had already reported the elimination of the threat, but less than an hour later, a new warning was announced for part of Latgale.
In recent months, such reports have become significantly more frequent. In May, residents of Latgale and Vidzeme repeatedly received emergency notifications about possible aerial threats. Some drones subsequently fell or exploded, and one of them was destroyed over Estonian territory by a NATO mission aircraft.
It is believed that most of these cases are related to drones used in the Russo-Ukrainian war, which deviate from their routes and end up near or inside the airspace of the Baltic states.
Despite the lifting of the last warning, today's events have become the most serious such incident in Latvia during the observation of drone incursions and have shown that NATO and NAF forces are already ready not only to track such objects but also to destroy them if necessary.
