Russischer Angriffskrieg: Luftalarm in Lettland: Kampfjets schießen Drohne ab

A drone entered Latvia's airspace and was shot down by fighter jets from a NATO ally. Italian Eurofighters managed to retrieve the object from the sky, according to military sources. The decision to shoot down the drone was made to prevent endangering the population of Latvia, said Defense Minister Raivis Melnis. The military had previously issued a state of alert and advised Latvians to stay indoors and seek safety.

The drone was reportedly shot down over a forested area, and there were no injuries or property damage. Military officials were on the scene at the crash site, according to a statement from Latvia's state television. The source of the drone remained unclear at first, with the military initially providing no precise information on the origins of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the Balvi region.

The army mentioned an unidentified foreign drone that had drifted into Latvia's airspace due to Russia's electronic warfare. This led to the conclusion that the drone might have been a Ukrainian one. Melnis stated that it was currently impossible to determine the drone's origin and type, as this would require finding and examining drone debris.

Kiew reportedly attacked targets in northwest Russia in the early hours of the night. NATO fighter jets had already shot down a misdirected drone over Latvia in early June. Repeated drone incidents involving Ukrainian drones had occurred in Latvia, which borders Russia to the east. These incidents had not resulted in significant damage or injuries but had triggered a political crisis in Latvia, leading to a government change.

The new government had shortly after taking office signed an agreement with Ukraine for increased cooperation in drone defense. NATO monitors the Baltic airspace, with larger NATO states taking turns to provide the airspace surveillance for the member states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, which lack their own fighter jets. Italian fighter jets are stationed at the military airport in Siauliai, Lithuania.