EU state to strengthen air defense after alleged Russian drone incursion

Latvia accuses Moscow of violating its airspace after a UAV crashed on its territory during the weekend

The Latvian military will take additional measures to secure the nation’s eastern border after an armed military drone crashed in one of the nation’s regions, the head of the National Air Force Colonel Viesturs Masulis told journalists on Monday.

According to the Baltic state’s military, a UAV filled with explosives fell in Latvia’s Rezekne Region on Saturday. They have identified it as a Russian ‘Shahed’ drone which crossed into the country’s airspace from Belarus – Russia’s neighbor and close ally though not involved in the Ukraine conflict.

Western authorities and the media have repeatedly stated that such drones were originally developed by Iran and later supplied to Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry refers to such kamikaze UAVs as domestically produced Geran-2 drones.

According to the Latvian military, the nation’s air defenses did not shoot down the UAV, which fell in an uninhabited area. The Armed Forces (NAF) representatives did not comment on the drone’s exact payload as well as its potential danger to any populated areas. They also said that its warhead failed to explode during the crash.

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The incident should not be treated as “open military escalation,” the NAF said, adding that Latvia was not the target of the attack. NAF commander Lieutenant General Leonids Kalnins also admitted that the military lacks electronic warfare equipment that could be effective at downing drones. Riga is still waiting for more “effective air defense capabilities” to be delivered by other NATO members, he added.

According to Masulis, additional military units would be sent to the eastern border to strengthen air defense capabilities in the area. Defense Minister Andris Spruds has vowed to raise at NATO level the issue of air defense and the efficiency of air patrols along Latvia’s eastern border.

On Monday, the Foreign Ministry of Latvia summoned Russia’s temporary charge d’affaires Dmitry Kasatkin to protest the incident and demanded an explanation from Moscow. According to Latvian media, the diplomat said that he would inform the Russian Foreign Ministry about the situation. Moscow has not reacted to the incident.