Drones crash in Latvia near Russian border

WorldPolitics
7 May 2026 • 1:19 PM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

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Image from: Drones crash in Latvia near Russian border
FILE PHOTO - A border post bearing the inscription "Republic of Latvia" stands at the Latvian border with Russia during a visit by Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics. German arms manufacturer Dynamit Nobel Defence plans to build a production facility for anti-tank mines in Latvia. (zu dpa: «Drones crash in Latvia near Russian border») Alexander Welscher/dpa

Two drones that flew in from Russia crossed into Latvian airspace and crashed near the border, the military in Riga said on Thursday.

The armed forces of the Baltic EU and NATO member state said the two unmanned aerial vehicles came down overnight in the eastern Latvian region of Latgale.

Military, police and fire department units were on the scene. There were initially no reports of injuries. It remained unclear whether the drones were Russian or Ukrainian. The incidents coincided with Ukrainian drone attacks on targets in Russia.

Emergency services said one of the drones may have crashed into an oil storage facility in the city of Rezekne. No major damage was initially identified there, Latvian television reported, citing the fire department.

Latvia borders Russia and Belarus to the east. Residents of regions near the border received phone alerts during the night warning of a possible threat to Latvian airspace.

The military said that several drones had flown into Latvia.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than four years with Western assistance.

During Ukrainian attacks, stray drones used by Kiev to strike targets in north-western Russia have repeatedly entered the airspace of the Baltic states and, in some cases, crashed.

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