The National Armed Forces reported on May 17 that the drone flew into Latvian airspace. The potential threat in five Latvian border regions became known around six in the morning.
The armed forces did not specify which country the drone belonged to. Based on eyewitness videos, a Ukrainian drone entered Latvian airspace.
The Latvian Armed Forces activated air defense units stationed in the area. In addition, fighter aircraft of the NATO mission participated in the airspace of the Baltic states.
According to the armed forces, after flying through Latvian airspace, the drone left the country. At approximately eight in the morning, the alert was canceled in the border areas.
The National Armed Forces said that it “strengthened air defense capabilities on the eastern border with additional units.”
The drone entered Latvian airspace during a large-scale Ukrainian strike on Russian territory on the night of May 17. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine used more than 500 drones during the attack. Russian armed forces also attacked Ukraine last night using nearly 300 drones.
A political crisis erupted in Latvia in May after two Ukrainian drones flew into the country’s airspace on the night of May 7, coming from Russia. One of the downed drones hit empty tanks in an oil depot in the city of Rezkni. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Ukrainian drones flew in Latvia as a result of the work of Russian electronic warfare systems. In light of what happened, Latvian Prime Minister Ivica Selina resigned.