The unmanned aerial vehicle landed on Lake Dridza in the municipality of Kraslava and exploded when it hit the surface of the water.Image: X
May 23, 2026, 2:35 p.mMay 23, 2026, 2:35 p.m
A drone crashed near the border with Belarus in the southeast of the EU and NATO member Latvia. The unmanned aerial vehicle landed on Lake Dridza in the municipality of Kraslava and exploded when it hit the surface of the water, Latvian police said. No one was injured in the incident, which authorities were informed about by local residents. No information was initially provided about the origin or type of the missile.
According to police, debris could be seen at the crash site. Emergency services and the military are on site to investigate the incident. Prime Minister Evika Silina wrote on Platform X that she was in contact with the relevant authorities and was expecting more information. She called on the population to follow the authorities’ instructions.
According to the army, the drone’s entry into Latvian airspace was not registered by the radar systems. Therefore, no cell phone warnings about a possible threat to the airspace were sent to the residents of the region, the armed forces said, according to Latvian media reports.
Repeated incidents of misguided drones
Latvia borders Russia and Belarus to the east. As a result of the war in Ukraine, there have already been several incidents involving drones in the Baltic state. During Ukrainian attacks, misguided unmanned missiles repeatedly entered Latvian airspace and some crashed. Kyiv had used them to attack targets in northwestern Russia.
In one of the latest incidents this month, a little-used oil depot with empty tanks was hit in Rezekne, in the east of the country. There was no major damage or injuries. However, the incident triggered a political crisis in the country, with first Defense Minister Andris Spruds and then Silina resigning.
Threats from Moscow
The drone incidents also led to tensions with Russia. Latvia’s foreign secret service SWR recently accused Latvia, without any evidence, that Ukrainian drones were being launched from Latvian territory and had also made threats against the EU and NATO country. Latvia rejected the statements as a blatant lie and condemned the threats. The EU and NATO also expressed their support. (sda/dpa)