Minister: Friday's drone entered Latvia from Belarus
Defence Minister Raivis Melnis confirmed that the drone which entered Latvian airspace on Friday came from Belarus, while its country of origin is still being determined. Allied aircraft shot it down near Lake Boževa in Balvi municipality, causing no damage.
Defence Minister Raivis Melnis told Latvian Television's "Rīta panorāma" programme that the drone which entered Latvian territory on Friday flew in from the direction of Belarus. He added that authorities are still working to establish the drone's actual country of origin.
The minister had earlier told the LETA news agency that the decision to shoot down the drone was made to prevent any possible harm to Latvian residents.
Drone downed near Lake Boževa
In the early hours of Friday, allied fighter jets shot down the drone that had entered Latvian airspace near Lake Boževa, roughly five kilometres from the centre of Rugāji in Balvi municipality. Sandra Kapteine, head of the Rugāji association administration, confirmed this to LETA, noting that the incident occurred in a forested area and that no residents or property were harmed. Emergency services remain at the scene.
According to currently available information, the drone entered Latvian airspace as a result of electromagnetic warfare conducted by Russia. Soldiers of the National Armed Forces, National Guard members and State Police officers are taking part in surveying the area. Ieva Bērziņa, spokesperson for the NAF Joint Staff, said that because the drone was shot down at high altitude, debris could be scattered across a wide area.
Situation in Russia and Ukraine
Foreign media reported that overnight Thursday into Friday, a fire broke out at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region following a Ukrainian drone strike. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said 54 drones were shot down over the region in total. Ukrainian drones also struck a warehouse belonging to online retailer Wildberries in the Tver region overnight.
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said that over the past day they had hit 29 power substations in Russian-occupied territories, and 240 substations between August 1 and 13. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that overnight, 553 Ukrainian drones were shot down over 18 Russian regions and occupied Crimea, though as usual it did not disclose how many drones evaded air defences. Experts estimate that around 10–15% of drones reach their targets.
