Air alert in three Latvian municipalities: drone did not enter Latvia, may have detonated in Lithuania

On Sunday morning, residents of the Bauska, Ogre and Aizkraukle municipalities in southern and central Latvia received a cell broadcast alert about a possible threat in the airspace. According to the National Armed Forces (NBS), the drone did not enter Latvian territory but may have detonated in neighbouring Lithuania.

The information came from Roberts Skraučs, adviser to the NBS commander on military public relations. He said data from the NBS airspace monitoring system does not indicate that a drone flew into Latvia. The possible detonation took place in Lithuania's Pasvalys district, where Lithuanian armed forces representatives are currently present.

How the alert unfolded

The warning was also published on the 112.lv website. The NBS urged residents of the named municipalities to stay indoors, follow the two-wall rule, and close windows and doors. Anyone who notices a low-flying, suspicious or dangerous object should not approach it and should call 112.

The NBS reported that the threat ended after about half an hour.

Earlier incidents

At the start of summer, residents of Latgale and Vidzeme also repeatedly received cell broadcast warnings about a possible airspace threat. Some drones fell and exploded in Latvia at that time. Those incidents were linked to drones, most likely involved in the Russia–Ukraine war, approaching or entering Latvian airspace.