NATO Jet Downs Drone in Latvia

PHOTO CAPTION: Servicemen of the Latvian National Guard gather before a search operation for the debris from an intercepted drone, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Rugaji, Latvia, August 14, 2026. REUTERS/Janis Laizans

RUGAJI, Latvia, Aug. 14 — An Italian fighter jet operating as part of a NATO mission shot down a drone of unknown origin after it entered Latvian airspace Friday during Ukrainian attacks on Russian ports, NATO and Latvian authorities said.

Latvian soldiers were searching around midday for debris in a wooded area near the village of Rugaji, about 35 km, or 22 miles, from Latvia’s border with Russia. Authorities identified the area as a possible crash site but said the drone’s origin had not yet been determined.

“We can’t give information about the origin of the drone as the area is not yet searched,” Latvian military spokesperson Iveta Berzina told public broadcaster LSM.

Ukrainian military drones have entered Baltic airspace several times this year. Before Friday’s incident, Ukraine had carried out overnight attacks on Russian ports near St. Petersburg, close to Finland and the Baltic states, and regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said Russian forces shot down 15 Ukrainian drones during those strikes.

Two Italian Eurofighter jets took off from Lithuania after the drone was detected over Latvia, while two Turkish F-16s were scrambled from a base in Estonia, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said. One of the Italian Eurofighters identified the drone and shot it down.

“All aircraft were operating under NATO command. An investigation is ongoing and NATO is in close contact with the Latvian authorities,” Hart said. “NATO is ready and able to react to any potential threats, 24/7, to safeguard our territory and protect our people.”

Baltic states see more drone incursions

Latvia and its Baltic neighbors have experienced a growing number of drone incursions as the war in Ukraine increasingly spills into nearby airspace.

A Romanian F-16 shot down a Ukrainian drone in Estonia in May, while a French Rafale downed another drone in Latvia in June.

Berzina said Russian electronic warfare activity was contributing to unmanned aircraft straying into Latvian airspace.

“I have to say that all these incidents are related to Russian electromagnetic warfare activities, which contributes to these unmanned aerial vehicles entering Latvian airspace,” she said.

Finland, another NATO and European Union member, temporarily restricted aviation and maritime traffic in parts of the eastern Gulf of Finland on Friday morning as a precaution, its defense forces said on X.

A Latvian military commander involved in the search told Reuters that the suspected crash area was making recovery difficult because of dense forests, bogs and sparse settlements.

“This area is highly forested with relatively sparse farmsteads, making the terrain challenging,” he said. “Of course, forests, bogs, and varying types of vegetation mean that the search is far from easy.”

Russia’s NATO neighbors have also been increasing security around dams, power plants and natural gas infrastructure amid concerns that Moscow could stage a “false flag” attack using Ukrainian drones.

(Source: Reuters)