Routine on the Border: Groups of Strangers and Drone Alerts Become a New Normal

Living near the Belarus border, residents have become accustomed to encountering groups of irregular migrants as part of their daily reality. Local people say that such encounters no longer surprise them – it has become a normal part of life. However, the greater nuisance comes from smartphone notifications about drone threats, which often prove to be unwarranted or simply disrupt their peace.

Locals recall that meeting "mushroom pickers without baskets" – people wandering through the woods asking how far it is to Berlin – is nothing new. They have already experienced this during the so-called "Vietnamese times," when a wave of illegal immigrants crossed the border. They also remember the 1990s, when tanks were used to smuggle "Royal" alcohol across the border – a time when the border was much more porous.

Silene – a Thriving Village Right at the Border

Silene, the last inhabited place before the border fence, shatters the stereotype of a declining border region. The village resembles a densely populated suburb of Riga, with well-kept houses, developed infrastructure, and tourist attractions. It boasts a SPA center, a guesthouse, several restaurants, and even an Italian restaurant, which locals proudly point out. "Go to the Italian restaurant," urge the residents of Silene, proud of their Latgalian rural elegance.