“Yesterday, a Russian military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed in eastern Latvia. An investigation is underway. We are in close contact with our allies,” he wrote on Sunday, noting that similar incidents on NATO’s eastern flank are increasing and need to be addressed together.
“This incident confirms the need to further strengthen Latvia’s eastern border, including improving our anti-aircraft defense and electronic warfare capabilities, which will help limit multi-purpose drone operations,” Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds said, according to the Estonian publication Eesti Rahvusringhäsling.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Bražė stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a representative of the Russian Embassy to a meeting on Monday.
Army commander Lieutenant General Leonidas Kalninis told the LETA news agency that the drone entered Latvian airspace early Saturday morning and was immediately spotted. The investigation is still ongoing, although preliminary data from experts indicate that the drone “did not have the specific purpose of flying to Latvia.”
“We assessed and monitored the situation, how dangerous it is, whether objects and civilians may be in danger,” said L. Kalninis, adding that the decision was made in accordance with the procedure approved by the Latvian National Armed Forces (LNGP) and NATO member states.
As the Ukrainian Air Force announced on Sunday, as Russia continued its offensive in the Odesa region, a group of Russian combat drones flew into Romanian airspace. Later, the Romanian Ministry of Defense confirmed that on September 8. during Moscow’s night attack in Ukraine, a Russian drone violated Romanian airspace. Two Romanian F-16 warplanes from the 86th Borcea Air Force Base were scrambled to respond to the situation.
On the night of Sunday, the Air Defense Forces of Ukraine shot down 15 Russian Shahed drones and one Kh-59 guided missile.
The Ministry of Defense of Latvia stated in a statement that the drone entered the country’s airspace from Belarus and fell in the municipality of Rėzekne.
“This situation confirms that we need to continue the work started on strengthening Latvia’s eastern border, including the development of air defense capabilities and electronic warfare capabilities, in order to limit the activities of multi-purpose drones,” said Defense Minister Andris Sprūdis.
NATO member Romania also said on Sunday that a Russian drone targeting civilian infrastructure in neighboring Ukraine had entered its airspace overnight.
Bucharest strongly condemned the “new violation” caused by Moscow’s “illegal attacks”.
Since the start of the invasion, Russia has repeatedly launched nighttime attacks on Ukrainian cities, often targeting ports in the southern Odesa region after it pulled out of a grain export agreement.
Poland has also recorded at least two instances of its airspace being violated by Russian missiles or drones that attacked Ukraine, most recently in December.
In late August, Warsaw claimed that a flying object had entered its airspace, but later retracted its claim.
In an interview with the Financial Times published last week, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Warsaw should have the right to shoot down Russian missiles aimed at Ukraine before they enter Polish airspace, despite NATO objections.
The President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda also reacted to this event
He emphasized the need to strengthen the air defense of the Baltic countries.
“Lithuania condemns Russia’s violations of NATO airspace and supports the affected allies. A new incident in Latvia shows that we need to strengthen the air defense of the Baltic countries,” G. Nausėda wrote on the X social network.
“The rotating model of air defense must be implemented, as was agreed at the Vilnius summit!” – emphasized the President of Lithuania.
L. Kasčiūnas reacted to the incident in Latvia: it will probably need to be discussed in NATO formats as well
After the information about the Russian military drone that crashed in Latvia appeared, Minister of National Defense Laurynas Kassciūnas says that this incident will need to be discussed in NATO formats as well.
“It will probably be necessary to discuss the incident in NATO formats if the Latvians initiate it. We will definitely support them on this so that we can have a discussion on how to respond to such situations in the future. An analysis of the situation must also be made, so that after that the algorithms of operation can be put together”, said L. Kasčiūnas to Eltai, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the air defense of the Baltic countries.
“I think that the direction we have chosen to pay more attention to air defense is exactly what needs to be done,” the minister emphasized.
G. Landsbergis about the incident in Latvia: Lithuania will support the strong response of the allies
After the downing of a Russian drone in Latvia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis says that Lithuania will support the strong response of the allies to the incident caused by the Kremlin.
“Incidents that were unthinkable three years ago are now considered common. Neither in Ukraine, nor in Latvia, nor anywhere else on NATO territory should anyone venture, but this is the new reality that our inaction has allowed to emerge. Lithuania will, of course, support a strong response from the allies”, G. Landsbergis writes on the social network “X”, reacting to the Russian drone that fell on the territory of Latvia.
Latvian President Edgaras Rinkevičius announced on Sunday that a Russian military drone had fallen on the territory of this country.
Army commander Lieutenant General Leonidas Kalninis told the LETA news agency that the drone entered Latvian airspace early Saturday morning and was immediately spotted.
According to the available data of the Latvian army, a Russian military drone entered the country’s airspace from Belarus.
On Saturday, a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) crashed in the municipality of Rezekne, Latvia, reports the country’s national broadcaster LSM, based on information from the Military Public Relations Department of the Latvian Ministry of Defense.
Currently, the responsible services, including the police, are investigating the circumstances of the incident. According to the Latvian military, a Russian military drone entered the country’s airspace from Belarus.
Previously, “zinas.tv3.lv”, based on the country’s Ministry of Defense, wrote that the wreckage was discovered on Saturday in Rėzekne district.
“Currently, the responsible services, including the police, continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident, but the Ministry of National Defense indicates that, according to preliminary data, it is a Russian drone of military significance,” the publication notes.
At that time, according to the National Armed Forces of Lavtia, a Russian UAV entered the country’s airspace from the Belarusian side.
The armed forces recorded the arrival of an unmanned aircraft in the territory of Latvia, also monitored its movement and determined the location of the accident.
The investigation of the situation continues. Government officials, law enforcement authorities and NATO countries have been informed about the incident.
Parengta pagal UNIAN inf.
2024-09-09 09:10:54