Riga protested today after several drones crossed into Latvian territory overnight, raising new security concerns along the border.
In the early hours of May 7, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires, Dmitry Kasatkin, to hand over a note of protest after drones fell in the country. According to Latvian diplomacy, several drones crossed into Latvia from Russian airspace.
“The representative of the Russian embassy was told that Russia, waging an aggressive war in Ukraine, is creating risks of security incidents in the region,” the statement said.
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
The Latvian side also noted that, despite Russia’s statements, Latvia has never given permission to use its airspace for drone strikes against targets in the Russian Federation.
“During the conversation, Latvia also condemned Russia’s public threats to carry out a large-scale strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on May 9, including threats directed at foreign embassies in Kyiv,” the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
Reaction and position of official Riga
Earlier, Latvia’s Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds, in an interview with the national channel LSM, stated that, apparently, the drones that entered the country were launched by Ukraine at targets on Russian territory.
President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that the drone incidents are “direct consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”
In line with Latvia’s steadfast position, these lines emphasize that Latvia is responsible for airspace control and supports the European security stance regarding Russian aggression. The incident demonstrates ongoing risks in the region and the importance of coordination among allies in response to such incidents.
The event demonstrates Latvia’s firm stance on protecting its airspace and supporting European security, where cooperation with partners plays a decisive role in preventing new threats and escalation.