Latvia’s armed forces launched a Blaze interceptor to monitor an unidentified drone that entered Latvian airspace from Belarus on November 1, eventually activating the interceptor’s self-destruct system after the drone crossed into Russia, according to public broadcaster LSM. The aircraft entered the Krāslava region at around 7 p.m. and travelled towards the Russian border, with Latvian forces tracking its movement until it entered Russian territory through the Ludza district at 7.16 p.m. At 7.19 p.m., the interceptor was destroyed to avoid a potential border violation, while the unidentified drone remained unharmed. Authorities had issued an orange alert for the Krāslava and Ludza districts at 6.59 p.m., instructing residents to seek indoor shelter with at least two walls separating them from the outside. The warning was cancelled at 7.30 p.m. The drone’s origin and intended mission have not been established. A Latvian military spokesperson suggested a possible Ukrainian origin but stressed that this remained speculation. The incident adds to a series of drone-related airspace violations linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Latvian officials have previously suggested that some Ukrainian drones entered the country’s airspace after being diverted by Russian electronic warfare. In August, NATO aircraft intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Balvi region, which was later identified as Ukrainian. Latvia had also announced plans in July to introduce automated counter-drone systems across its eastern border following an assessment that identified weaknesses in detection, early warning and interception capabilities. Defence Minister Raivis Melnis said automation would reduce the manpower needed to monitor and secure the border. In an earlier incident in June, French aircraft operating under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission shot down another drone that had entered Latvian airspace, following similar incursions and crashes in May.
