Allied fighter jets down drone near Boževa Lake in Balvi region

Early on Friday morning, allied fighter jets shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace, according to Sandra Kapteine, head of the Rugāji association administration, who spoke to the LETA news agency. The incident occurred near Boževa Lake, roughly five kilometers from the center of Rugāji in Balvi municipality.

Kapteine said the drone was downed over a wooded area and that no residents or property were affected. Emergency and security services, including National Armed Forces soldiers, National Guard members and State Police officers, are working at the site.

Iveta Bērziņa, spokesperson for the National Armed Forces Joint Staff, said the drone was shot down at high altitude, meaning debris could be scattered over a wide area.

The country of origin of the drone is still being clarified. Available information so far indicates the drone entered Latvian airspace as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare activity. A minister confirmed that any drones entering Latvian territory will be shot down to prevent harm to residents.

Cross-border context

The same night, foreign media reported several Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory. A fire broke out at the port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region following a drone raid, and regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said a total of 54 drones were shot down over the region. An attack also targeted a warehouse belonging to online retailer Wildberries in the Tver region.

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said that over a 24-hour period they struck 29 power substations in Russian-occupied territories, and 240 substations between August 1 and 13. Russia's Defense Ministry claims 553 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over 18 Russian regions and occupied Crimea, though as usual it did not disclose how many drones failed to be intercepted — experts estimate 10 to 15 percent of drones reach their targets.