Latvia will close parts of its airspace along the borders with Russia and Belarus from 18:00 today for at least a week, the country’s defence minister Andris Sprūds announced. The decision is preventive and may be extended. The minister underlined that there is no direct threat to Latvia at present, but that security measures must be strengthened after the nighttime incidents in which Russian drones violated the airspace of Poland, a NATO member.

The restrictions will cover roughly a 50-kilometre belt in the east of the country. The zone will be closed to traffic at altitudes up to 6,000 metres; transit at cruising altitudes will remain possible, since the regulation is aimed primarily at unmanned aerial vehicles. Sprūds noted that the decision comes amid the large-scale national defence exercise “Namejs 2025,” under which the armed forces are operating at heightened readiness.

Latvia’s move directly responds to the events of the night of 9–10 September, when—according to Polish authorities—several Russian drones entered Polish airspace and some were shot down in coordination with allied aircraft. As a consequence, Poland introduced temporary aviation restrictions in the country’s east: from 10 September to 9 December a limited zone is in force along the borders with Belarus and Ukraine.

The timing also overlaps with the “Zapad 2025” exercises starting Friday in Belarus, which have raised concerns in the Baltic states and Poland. Latvian authorities assess that closing airspace along the border will make it easier to identify unauthorised objects and respond flexibly in case of escalation.

This is not the first time Latvia has faced the consequences of Russian unmanned operations. In the autumn of last year, an armed Shahed-type drone entered Latvian airspace from Belarus and crashed in the Rēzekne area of Latgale; the warhead was secured and neutralised by the army after the crash. The incident sparked a domestic debate about air-defence readiness.

The Latvian ministry says the situation will be assessed on an ongoing basis and the restrictions taking effect today may remain in place for longer than a week if developments require. The priority remains the safety of civilians and ensuring the armed forces have efficient access to the protected area.