The drone entered Latvian airspace due to ‘Russian electronic warfare’, the military says.By AFP and ReutersPublished On 8 Jun 20268 Jun 2026NATO fighters have scrambled to shoot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia.The Latvian military said on Monday that French aircraft had destroyed “a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle that had entered Latvian airspace as a result of Russian electronic warfare”, without saying where the drone originated.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe incident adds a growing list of incursions from the Russia-Ukraine war into neighbouring countries that are part of the NATO alliance, sparking fears of escalating spillover effects as Moscow’s siege on Ukraine continues apace.“Thank you to our French allies for shooting down the drone that penetrated Latvian airspace!” Riga’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braze wrote on social media.Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs heralded the “swift decision-making and professional action”.Defence Minister Raivis Melnis told reporters the drone was shot down just after 9am local time (07:00 GMT) near the village of Berzgale, located about 30km (18 miles) from the Russian border. No one was hurt, and no property was damaged, Melnis said.The French military said in a statement that the jets took off from Siauliai airbase in northern Lithuania and destroyed the drone “over an uninhabited area”.It added that the incident demonstrated France’s “commitment to contributing to the security of Europe’s eastern flank”.Authorities had previously warned residents in some parts of eastern Latvia to shelter in place because of the threat.Ongoing threatCountries in the region have reported repeated drone incursions from air and sea in recent months, spawning concerns over the widening impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Advertisement …
