Operation 'Vilkatis' in Silene: Local Daily Life Largely Unchanged; Success to be Judged by Drop in Illegal Migration
The 'Vilkatis' operation is running on Latvia's eastern border until the end of August, with authorities expanding their presence and using more technology. LSM's Latgale desk visited Silene and found that locals' everyday life has not changed significantly.
Operation 'Vilkatis' started on 11 August and will continue until the end of the month in Latvia's eastern border area. The responsible services have said they plan not only to expand their presence but also to use more technological solutions in the fight against illegal migration.
The Latgale editorial office of LSM travelled to Silene, a village in Augšdaugava municipality located just eight kilometres from the border. The aim was to find out whether local residents have noticed the special operation and whether it affects their daily routines.
According to observations in Silene, the operation does not significantly change the daily life of local residents. No major differences have been reported so far, even though the operation is taking place near the border. At the same time, the success of 'Vilkatis' will be assessed based on the reduction of illegal migration. That indicator will serve as the main criterion for evaluating the operation's results.
The operation is set to continue until the end of August, with authorities promising enhanced work along the border. For local residents, life so far remains largely unaffected.
