Latvia's Sky Intruders: NATO's Response to Drone Crashes

Two drones from Russian territory crashed in Latvia, possibly launched by Ukraine to target Russia. Latvian military and NATO forces responded, with damages reported at a storage facility. Alerts were issued for residents near the border, and schools closed in Rezekne due to safety precautions.

Two drones originating from Russian territory crashed in NATO member Latvia, the Latvian military reported on Thursday morning. According to Latvia's Defence Minister, Andris Spruds, the drones were likely aimed at Russian targets by Ukrainian forces, as he told national broadcaster LSM.

The NATO Baltic air police mission swiftly deployed military jets to the area. The drones caused damage to four empty oil tanks at a storage facility in Rezekne, located approximately 40 km from the Russian border. Authorities found remnants of a crashed drone and extinguished a smouldering fire across 30 square meters of one tank.

Following the incident, Latvian authorities issued a drone alert to local residents, urging them to remain indoors. Consequently, schools in Rezekne closed for the day. Latvia, alongside Estonia and Lithuania, has reiterated that its territory and airspace are not available for conducting drone assaults on Russia, as stated by their foreign ministers in April.