NATO jets have successfully intercepted and shot down a drone that crossed into Baltic territory from the Ukraine conflict, according to Latvia’s defense ministry. The incident took place over eastern Latvian airspace on Friday. The ministry stated that the drone entered Latvia as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare.
The unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed over the Balvi region by aircraft participating in NATO’s Baltic Air patrol mission, CNBC reported. Airspace alerts were issued across several regions and lifted at 4:50 a.m. local time.
Latvia described the drone as a foreign UAV that entered its airspace due to Russian electromagnetic interference. This suggests that Russian forces may have manipulated a Ukrainian drone and sent it across the border. Intercepting drones has become a common practice in the Ukrainian conflict.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs commended the swift response of the military, emphasizing the importance of protecting Latvian airspace. He also highlighted the need to enhance surveillance and anti-drone capabilities along the eastern border to detect and neutralize potential threats quickly.
Following the incident, Finland imposed temporary aviation and maritime restrictions in the eastern Gulf of Finland as a precautionary measure. The move aimed to safeguard bystanders and enhance authorities’ ability to counter potential drone threats.
There have been several drone incursions over Baltic nations in the past year, leading to fighter jets being deployed. This is at least the second major drone interception incident in Latvia recently.
Additionally, Europe has experienced repeated drone sightings, causing disruptions at airports. While some attribute these incidents to hobbyists or pranksters, the entry of projectiles from the Ukraine conflict poses a serious threat to neighboring countries.