Two NATO members said on Sunday that Russian drones violated their airspace, as one reportedly flew into Romania during nighttime attacks on neighbouring Ukraine while another crashed in eastern Latvia the previous day.
Later on Sunday, Latvia’s Defence Minister Andris Spruds said a Russian drone fell the day before near the town of Rezekne, and had likely strayed into Latvia from neighbouring Belarus.
Rezekne, home to over 25,000 people, lies some 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Russia and around 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Belarus, the Kremlin’s close and dependent ally.
While the incursion into Latvian airspace appeared to be a rare incident, Romania has confirmed drone fragments on its territory on several occasions since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, as recently as July this year.
Mircea Geoana, Nato’s outgoing deputy secretary-general and Romania’s former top diplomat, said Sunday morning that the military alliance condemned Russia’s violation of Romanian airspace. While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against Allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous, he wrote on the social media platform X.
Latvia’s military on Sunday similarly said there were no indications that Moscow or Minsk purposely sent a drone into the country. In a public statement, the military said it had identified the crash site, and that a probe was ongoing.
Spruds, the Latvian defence minister, sought to downplay the significance of the drone incursion.
I can confirm that there are no victims here and also no property is infringed in any way, Defence Minister Andris Spruds told the Latvian Radio on Sunday, adding that any risks in the event were immediately eliminated: Of course, it is a serious incident, as it is once again a reminder of what kind of neighbouring countries we live next to.
