Foreign Ministry Protests to Russia Over Drone Incident in Latgale

Latvia has formally lodged a protest with Russia following a drone incident that occurred early this morning in the Latgale region. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a representative of the Russian Embassy to convey its strong objections and to clarify Latvia's position on the matter.

During the meeting, Latvia emphasized that, contrary to Russia's public assertions, it has never granted permission for its airspace to be used for drone attacks against Russian territory. The ministry asserted that the drones involved in the incident had entered Latvian airspace originating from Russia. This directly challenges any narrative suggesting Latvian complicity or negligence.

Furthermore, Latvia used the occasion to condemn the public threats made by Russia to launch large-scale strikes on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on May 9, which could endanger foreign embassies located there. The Latvian side reiterated its unequivocal condemnation of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, calling it a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.

Latvia also repeated its demand for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the complete withdrawal of Russian armed forces from all internationally recognized Ukrainian territories. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the broader security risks posed by Russia's aggressive actions, not only to Ukraine but also to the wider region, including NATO and EU member states like Latvia.