Where to Run When You Hear a Drone: 25 Children Need to Be Hidden in Latvia's Kindergartens on Three Square Meters

From Universities to Kindergartens

The Chairperson of the Saeima Education, Science and Culture Commission, Agita Zarinya-Sture ("New Unity"), stated that recent events have directly affected the education sector – from universities to kindergartens. "We see that both the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Culture have started active work." Action is necessary – "without chaos and contradictory interpretations."

At the level of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia, the deadlines for exams for educational institutions will be extended. Flexibility will also be increased for exempting students from state assessments. Special attention will be given to graduates intending to continue their studies abroad. A webinar on child safety will be held for parents in the electronic environment this summer.

Area of Special Attention

Specific measures related to the security crisis have been assigned to eight municipalities on the borders with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus – the state cities of Daugavpils and Rezekne, as well as the regions of Ludza, Aluksne, Rezekne, Balvi, Kraslava, and Augsdaugava.

A "two-color" warning system is being implemented: at the yellow level – "possible threat," and at the orange level – "threat confirmed," which means "Immediate action is required. Proceed to shelters, following the principle of two walls."

Municipal authorities have been tasked with determining areas of activity that must continue to be conducted in person; providing recommendations for "active threats to airspace"; and ensuring continuity of services in threatened areas.

Meanwhile, the population is advised to:

1. Limit time spent in open spaces;

2. Know in advance where shelters are located;

3. Avoid open, unprotected places;

4. Stay away from dangerous objects;

5. Monitor the airspace – evacuate in case of suspicious aircraft;

6. Not linger near fallen drones; call 112.

Regarding the last point, by the way, real problems arose – during previous drone incidents, there were many cases when people could not reach the operator or access the 112.lv page. However, by April, the capacity for simultaneous calls increased to 10,000. An analysis of the warning system confirmed the need to invest an additional 600,000 euros into it.

Echo of the Neighboring War

Gints Reinsons, head of the Crisis Management Center (a structure under the Cabinet of Ministers), acknowledged the need to "adapt to the new reality." The war is increasingly spilling over into Russian territory – and Russia, in turn, is using electromagnetic countermeasures to divert drones into the territories of neighboring states.

– Unfortunately, they can uncontrollably fly to us. These are military devices capable of flying fast and low, and even the warring parties are unable to shoot them down.

In a "very urgent manner," the Crisis Management Center activated a special sectoral matrix that all legal and physical entities must follow. Along with cellular broadcasting, which can function even when mobile networks are down, special applications for phones with interactive maps are also being utilized.

Contingency Plans

Rudolfs Kalvans, head of the General Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Science, reported that emergency work in the department began a month ago, specifically focusing on exams. "The Ministry has oriented itself very well," said the official, a former director of the Sigulda State Gymnasium. A special SOS group was created for WhatsApp – "it is dormant but quickly activates if something happens."

A "huge seminar" was held for school leaders. There is not only a "Plan B" – extending the exam deadlines, but also a "Plan V" – mass cancellation of exams for objective reasons.

– I will say right away: these young people will not be discriminated against when applying to higher education institutions. Of course, all specific decisions are made locally – school directors can continue exams in shelters. A variant for 12th graders intending to go abroad is also being developed. Legally, there are currently no restrictions on the movement of individuals in Latvia. Nevertheless, in threatening situations, R. Kalvans recommended that parents "spontaneously" not go to pick up their children from summer camps – the staff will take care of them.

The Mayor Was Caught Off Guard

The Latgale Regional Center turned out to be one of the hotspots on the map of Latvia. In this regard, the mayor of the second-largest city in Latvia, and concurrently the chairperson of the Civil Defense Commission, Andris Elksniņš, is "carefully monitoring, conducting preparatory work, and communicating."

At the same time, the city head noted that he received information about the threat at 11:30 via cellular broadcasting, simultaneously with all the residents of the city, and in content "no more, no less." The mayor contacted the National Guard and found out that what was happening was no joke!

Then, within 20 minutes, a meeting of the Civil Defense Commission was convened, which monitored the situation in real-time. However, legally, the entire situation is quite vague, and the working bodies are found to be incapacitated:

– There is neither a state of war nor a state of emergency.

"I would suggest granting more powers to municipal leaders," said A. Elksniņš. "There is no room for collegiality here. I do not have time to put everything to a vote. This will lead to chaos."
"Mom, are you okay?"

Daugavpils found itself in a situation that was completely different from what they had prepared for theoretically. "You need to stay calm, but the guiding lines are 99% not in line with reality." As an example, Mr. Elksniņš mentioned the infamous principle of two walls, which is difficult to implement in practice in educational institutions where such protected areas are extremely few.

– For a kindergarten group of 25 children, that is three square meters in the corridor. Thanks to the teachers, they acted out a storm with them. They moved mattresses. There is no ventilation there. Where to place them? There is nowhere, as these institutions are built.

"All standard school projects are the same – there are windows everywhere," noted Andris Elksniņš. "And then some politician comes out and says that those who speak out on social media challenge Latvia's defense capability."
Despite the fact that students already have mobile phones, they are required to turn off the sound during classes. Because of this, the warnings from cellular broadcasting may go unheard. But if the signal does come through, the child may start calling home: "Mom, are you okay?".

For their part, national politicians of Latvia "talk about protection from the first centimeter and the wall of drones."