Fighter jets assigned to NATO’s air defence mission shot down a drone that violated Latvian airspace early on Friday morning. The incident occurred in the Balvi region of north-eastern Latvia, close to the Russian border. The origin of the unmanned aircraft has not yet been officially established.
Latvia’s National Armed Forces reported that the drone was destroyed over Balvi Municipality, in the territory of Rugāji Parish. Because it was flying at a relatively high altitude, its debris may have been scattered across a wide area. Security services have launched an operation to locate and recover the wreckage.
Residents have been warned not to approach any suspected fragments of the drone or other unfamiliar objects. All such findings should be reported by calling the emergency number 112. According to preliminary information, the interception may have taken place near Lake Boževa, approximately 20 kilometres from the town of Balvi. However, this location has not yet been officially confirmed. Latvian Public Broadcasting
Alert Issued in Five Regions
Shortly before 4 a.m., the authorities declared an orange-level air threat alert in five regions of eastern Latvia: Augšdaugava, Preiļi, Rēzekne, Balvi and Alūksne. Residents received emergency notifications instructing them to remain indoors, close their windows and doors, and follow the “two-wall rule” by seeking a location separated from the exterior of the building by at least two walls.
The alert was lifted approximately one hour later. Latvia’s armed forces announced that the threat had ended and that Allied aircraft had successfully shot down the unmanned aerial vehicle.
The warning also covered the area around Aglona, where preparations are under way for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some pilgrims gathered at the local sanctuary were temporarily required to take shelter in basements and other secure locations.
As of the time of publication, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage caused by falling debris.
Drone’s Origin Remains Unknown
The Latvian authorities have not yet disclosed the type of drone involved or identified the country from which it originated. It also remains unclear whether the aircraft was conducting a reconnaissance or combat mission or had accidentally deviated from its intended route.
The incident occurred during another wave of Ukrainian drone attacks against targets in north-western Russia. Russian authorities claimed that 15 drones had been intercepted overnight over the Leningrad region, which includes St Petersburg and strategically important export infrastructure.
One scenario being considered is that a Ukrainian drone entered Latvian airspace after its navigation systems were disrupted by Russian electronic warfare. Similar incidents have occurred in the past. At this stage, however, this remains a hypothesis rather than an official conclusion by the Latvian authorities. Reuters
Another Violation of Latvian Airspace
This is not the first drone-related incursion into Latvian territory in 2026. In March, a drone crashed in the Krāslava region. In May, two drones came down at a disused oil storage facility in Rēzekne, while another crashed and exploded in Lake Drīdzis.
On 8 June, French NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace for the first time. Friday’s operation therefore marks another instance in which Allied forces have actively neutralised an unmanned aircraft over Latvia.
At the same time, Finland temporarily restricted aviation and maritime traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland as a precaution against the possible appearance of additional drones.
Friday’s interception took place over Latvia, not Estonia. Reports referring to Estonia may have confused the latest incident with a separate event in May, when a drone was shot down over Estonia’s Lake Võrtsjärv.
