Latvia shoots down drone entering airspace from Belarus

Latvian defense minister Raivis Melnis confirmed that an unidentified drone entered Latvian airspace from Belarus on Friday morning. The drone was intercepted and shot down by allied fighter jets near Lake Boževas, located approximately five kilometers from the center of Rugāji in the Balvi municipality.

Local officials reported that the drone was downed in a forested area, resulting in no injuries to residents or damage to property. Operational services, including members of the National Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Police, were deployed to the site to investigate.

Preliminary information suggests the drone may have entered Latvian airspace due to the influence of electromagnetic warfare conducted by Russia. Because the aircraft was intercepted at a high altitude, officials noted that debris could be scattered across a wide area.