Aglona pilgrims face airspace alert overnight as drone shot down in Balvi district

Some 28 pilgrim groups, roughly 1,500 people in total, have arrived in Aglona for the religious festival. Church representative Stankēvičs said about 90% of them are staying in school buildings during the celebrations, while the church cannot take responsibility for those who choose to stay elsewhere, such as in tents. He noted that an action plan has been prepared for festival participants in case of an airspace threat, with information posted at the event venues.

Most people spoken to spent the night in Aglona — some in tents, others housed in schools. For many, this was the first time they had to respond to an airspace threat. People said the experience was unpleasant but did not affect the festive mood, and an inner sense of calm remained.

Drone shot down in Balvi district

Early Friday morning, allied fighter jets shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace near Lake Boževa, about five kilometers from the center of Rugāji in Balvi district. Sandra Kapteine, head of the Rugāji municipal administration, confirmed the drone was downed in a wooded area and that no residents or property were harmed. Emergency services, including National Armed Forces soldiers, National Guard members and State Police officers, are working at the site. Available information indicates the drone entered Latvian airspace due to Russian electromagnetic warfare activity. A National Armed Forces spokeswoman said that since the drone was shot down at high altitude, its debris may be scattered over a wide area.

Strikes in Russia

A fire broke out at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region following a Ukrainian drone attack overnight, with the regional governor reporting 54 drones shot down over the area. Ukrainian drones also struck a warehouse belonging to online retailer Wildberries in the Tver region. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said they struck 29 power substations in occupied territories over the past day, and 240 since August 1. Russia's Defense Ministry claims 553 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over 18 regions and occupied Crimea, though experts estimate that in reality only 10–15% of drones reach their targets.