Border Operation "Vilkatis" Extended to Year's End as Illegal Migration Pressure Persists

Latvia's government has decided to extend the border security operation known as "Vilkatis" (Werewolf) until December 31, after officials observed renewed pressure from illegal border crossers over the past two weeks. The update was shared by official Zīle, who oversees the operation.

According to Zīle, organizers of illegal migration are now using any means available to move migrants across the border, including forcing people across against their will. He also noted a renewed wave of incidents involving the dismantling and theft of surveillance cameras installed along the border.

Zīle acknowledged that the recent spike in pressure could potentially be linked to Latvia's parliamentary elections, but stressed that such an assessment falls within the competence of security agencies rather than his own.

Extension details

Zīle had initially proposed extending the operation only until November 3, but following discussion within the government, the final decision was to continue it through the end of the year. The operation's strategic objectives remain unchanged: developing proposals to strengthen the capacity of the State Border Guard so that it can handle illegal migration independently, without relying on other agencies. Authorities are also considering more active use of technical equipment, including drones and various sensors.

Results so far

Asked to assess the operation's achievements, Zīle said that early on it became evident that the number of illegal migration incidents between Latvia and Lithuania evened out sharply, meaning Latvia was no longer the "weak link" in the region. Several organizers of illegal migration have been detained during the operation, including four such criminals apprehended in the past four weeks alone.

Operation "Vilkatis" began on August 11 with the goal of significantly reducing illegal border crossings in eastern Latvia and preventing future incidents. It was originally meant to conclude by the end of August, but the deadline was already pushed to early October before this latest extension to the end of the year.