Two drones from Russia crash in Latvia, damage oil storage facility
Latvian officials said the drones were likely Ukrainian and heading for Russian targets, while NATO fighter jets were deployed and no injuries were reported.
- On Thursday, two drones entered Latvian airspace from Russian territory and crashed, the Latvian National Armed Forces reported, with one striking an oil storage facility in Rezekne about 40 km from the Russian border.
- Latvia's Defence Minister Andris Spruds stated the drones were "probably launched by Ukraine against targets in Russia," though he emphasized this remained a preliminary assessment requiring verification.
- Emergency crews extinguished a smoldering fire covering around 30 square meters at the oil depot, where four empty tanks sustained damage; authorities issued drone alerts and closed all schools in Rezekne.
- NATO air-policing assets were activated, with fighter jets patrolling Latvian airspace, while the State Police opened a criminal investigation under the Criminal Code for crimes against the state.
- These incidents follow similar drone incursions in the Baltics last March, prompting calls for a regional "drone wall" to improve detection and strengthen security measures across NATO's eastern flank.
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With targeted propaganda pro-Russian circles want to weaken the support of Ukraine. This is high in Latvia, but the drones lead to internal political tensions.
Two Russian drones crash in Latvia, prompting airspace alerts and security concerns
Latvia's National Armed Forces reported that two drones entered Latvian airspace from Russia overnight on Thursday, May 7th, before crashing within Latvian territory. Authorities issued an airspace threat alert in the Balvi, Ludza, and Rezekne regions. Residents of Rezekne, a city near the Russian border, reported hearing the sound of drones overhead even before receiving emergency notifications on their mobile phones. According to Guntars Skudr…
Drones crash into NATO territory, prompting Latvia to scramble fighter jets
Two drones crashed in Latvia after entering the NATO member’s airspace from Russia, prompting fighter jets stationed in neighboring Lithuania to patrol the area, according to Baltic officials. Latvian airspace Two drones crashed in Latvia after entering NATO airspace from Russia. By: Unsplash Latvia’s military said the drones crossed into the country from Russian territory...
UPDATE 4-Baltic nations seek more NATO defence as drone hits Latvian oil tanks
The three Baltic region nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are strong supporters of Ukraine in the war with Russia. Four empty oil tanks were damaged on Thursday morning at a storage facility in Rezekne, about 40 km (25 miles) from the Russian border, and possible debris of a crashed drone was found at the site, police and firefighters said.
On the night of May 7, two drones flew into Latvian airspace from Russia, the country's National Armed Forces reported.
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