Latvia Activates NATO Jets Following Drone Incursion Amid Regional Security Surge
Latvian military confirms unmanned aircraft in airspace, prompting shelter advisories and NATO scrambling, while regional leaders urge Kyiv to maintain precision to avoid Russian provocations.
Latvia’s military confirmed the presence of at least one unmanned aircraft in its airspace on Thursday, triggering the activation of NATO aircraft and a public alert advising citizens to seek shelter indoors. The Latvian Armed Forces stated that additional military units had been deployed to the eastern border with Russia in response to the incident. The alert was lifted hours later, but the event underscores the persistent security challenges facing the Baltic region as Ukraine intensifies long-range strikes on Russian targets.
The incident occurred less than a month after a drone landing in eastern Latvia damaged an oil storage facility, an event that contributed significantly to the collapse of Prime Minister Evika Silina’s coalition government. The previous incursion led to the dismissal of the defence minister and the withdrawal of a coalition partner, ultimately forcing Silina’s resignation. The Latvian military warned that recurrences of such incidents are possible as long as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine continues.
This alert follows a rapid succession of similar security events across the Baltic states. On Tuesday, NATO planes shot down a drone over Estonian airspace, and on Wednesday, Lithuania issued air alerts that disrupted air travel and prompted senior officials, including President Gitanas Nauseda, to take shelter. President Nauseda later addressed the nation, describing the events as an important lesson for institutions and citizens while urging calm and responsible action without overreaction.
Ukraine has increased its long-range attacks on Russian infrastructure, including oil terminals in the Baltic Sea region, amid rising fuel prices linked to broader geopolitical tensions. Several military drones have strayed into the airspace of NATO members Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania during these operations. While Ukraine and Baltic officials allege that Russian forces intentionally scramble navigation systems to cause drones to stray into NATO airspace for propaganda purposes, the proximity of these incidents has heightened diplomatic concerns.
Regional defence ministers have urged Kyiv to exercise greater precision to avoid escalating tensions. Poland’s defence minister, visiting Tallinn on Thursday, encouraged Ukraine to be precise with drone flight paths to avoid giving rise to Russian provocations. Similarly, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur had previously asked Kyiv to keep uncrewed aircraft as far from NATO territory as possible, highlighting the delicate balance between supporting Ukraine’s defence efforts and maintaining regional stability.
