Latvian military identifies downed drone as Ukrainian aircraft

Latvia’s National Armed Forces said the drone shot down on Friday in Balvu Municipality was a Ukrainian unmanned aircraft. LSM reported that it had entered Latvian airspace from Belarus, most likely under the influence of Russian electronic warfare.

The National Armed Forces will not provide details about the drone’s model in order not to affect the Ukrainian armed forces’ planned defensive activities and capabilities.

Electronic warfare systems can disrupt communications, navigation and targeting, making it more difficult or, in some cases, impossible to use weapons accurately, the armed forces said.

The National Armed Forces continue to monitor Latvia’s airspace and, together with NATO allies, are ready to respond immediately to potential threats.

NATO air policing mission fighter jets shot down the foreign drone in Rugāji Parish, a rural administrative area in Balvu Municipality, on August 14. Its fragments were found that evening, and potentially explosive components were destroyed by Saturday.

It was the second foreign unmanned aircraft shot down in Latvian territory. NATO fighter jets first downed a drone in Latvian airspace on June 8.