According to initial information, the unmanned aerial vehicle belonged to Russia and entered Latvian airspace via Belarus, as reported by Latvia's National Broadcaster LSM, citing the Latvian Armed Forces.

The Latvian authorities are investigating the incident.

Latvia's armed forces have notified NATO member states about the incident.

The drone's entry into Latvian territory was detected by the Latvian Armed Forces, which monitored its movement and located the crash site.

Latvian Defense Forces Commander Leonids Kalninš told the news agency LETA the drone entered Latvian airspace in the early hours of Saturday morning and was immediately detected by the armed forces.

Initial reports indicate that the drone did not have hostile intentions within Latvian territory. While the investigation is ongoing, experts believe the drone had no specific purpose or reason for flying into Latvia, LSM wrote.

"We assessed and monitored the situation to determine the level of danger and whether any objects or civilians were at risk," Kalninš said.

"This incident confirms the need to continue strengthening Latvia's eastern border, including improving our air defense and electronic warfare capabilities, which will help limit the operations of drones with various uses," said Minister of Defense Andris Spruds.

Foreign minister Baiba Braže said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned a representative of the Russian embassy for a meeting on Monday.

Rezekne municipality is in southeastern Latvia and borders Belarus. The Belarusian regime is supporting Russia in carrying out its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Prime minister: 'Unacceptable violation of international law'

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform) said such incidents "cannot be tolerated."

"Russia's recent drone incursion into NATO airspace in Latvia is an unacceptable violation of international law," he wrote on social media on Sunday.

"Such actions threaten regional stability and cannot be tolerated. We remain united and resolute in defending our allies' sovereignty."

Russia's recent drone incursion into NATO airspace in Latvia is an unacceptable violation of international law.

Such actions threaten regional stability and cannot be tolerated.

We remain united and resolute in defending our allies' sovereignty.

— Kristen Michal (@KristenMichalPM) September 8, 2024

Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said this is "another example of RU's [Russia's] provocative behavior."

"Protecting NATO's borders & airspace must continue to be the priority of the Alliance. Estonia fully supports Latvia in its investigation of the situation," he wrote.

The recent Russian drone incident on #Latvian soil is another example of RU's provocative behavior.

Protecting #NATO's borders & airspace must continue to be the priority of the Alliance.#Estonia fully supports Latvia in its investigation of the situation.

— Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) September 8, 2024

In recent months, Russian drones have also been reported in Romanian and Polish territory. Both countries border Ukraine.

Russian drone had explosives attached

At a press conference on Monday (September 9), representatives of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) said the drone was a "Shahed" type equipped with explosives.

Lieutenant-General Leonīds Kalninš, Commander of the NBS, said the drone was not specifically targeting Latvia, but Ukraine, LSM reported.

Kalninš confirmed it was a military drone with a warhead that did not explode and was subsequently neutralized on the ground by an NBS unit. 

He also said the NBS "does not shoot right and left at the border" to shoot down any suspicious objects, as there have been cases in the past when Belarusian drones have accidentally flown into Latvian territory.

Defense Minister Andris Spruds stressed that the debate on whether or not the drone was maliciously targeting Latvia was secondary, the primary issue being that Latvian airspace was violated by a drone of an aggressor state, and this is how the situation is being assessed.

This article was updated to add comments from Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna. Then again to add details from the press conference on September 9.

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