Latvian authorities have confirmed that the drone that crashed in the Rezekne district on September 7 was a Russian Shahed kamikaze drone. This was reported by local media outlet TVNET, citing the country's defense ministry.
The drone's explosive component was neutralized, and an investigation is ongoing.
Latvian defense officials clarified that the drone's entry into Latvian territory is not considered an intentional military escalation, as Latvia was not the intended target.
In response, Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced that Latvia is bolstering air defense measures along its eastern border. The Latvian armed forces tracked the drone’s flight path and identified the crash site.
The Defense Ministry stated that Latvia’s security forces acted according to established protocols, including notifying NATO command and regional law enforcement agencies. NATO member states in the area were also informed.
Reports from Militarnyi on September 8 suggested that the drone could be a Shahed model, following an earlier large-scale drone incursion into Belarus on the night of September 6-7. One of these drones reached as far as Korelichi and Novogrudok, near the Lithuanian border, raising the possibility that the drone may have passed through Lithuanian airspace.
Militarnyi also recently reported that Romania is investigating a similar incident where a Russian Shahed drone, originating from Ukraine, may have crashed on September 8.
