Press Conference Provides Information on the Situation in Latvian Airspace on May 19 up to 5:00 p.m.
The National Armed Forces informed today, May 19, about an incident in the Baltic region’s airspace up to 5:00 p.m. and the response measures implemented in the event of a potential threat to Latvian airspace.
The press conference was attended by Colonel Māris Tūtins, Head of the Information Analysis and Management Department of the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces; Guna Gavrilko, Director of the Military Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defence; and Colonel Arvis Zīle, Head of the Crisis Management Centre.
Today, shortly before 11:00 a.m., sensors of the National Armed Forces identified a potential threat in Latvian airspace. While monitoring the development of the situation, Baltic air policing fighter jets were activated and Latvia’s eastern border air defence was reinforced.
As the situation continued to develop, a potential threat alert was declared in the municipalities of Krāslava, Ludza, Rēzekne, Preiļi, Madona, Cēsis, Gulbene, Smiltene, and Valmiera. Residents were urged to follow the instructions of the responsible authorities, go indoors, observe the “two-wall principle,” and report suspicious or dangerous objects by calling 112.
The National Armed Forces inform that Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets stationed in Lithuania as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission intercepted and neutralized an unmanned aerial vehicle south of the city of Põltsamaa. The aircraft fired one missile and shot down the unmanned aerial system at 12:14 p.m. Before engagement, the target was visually identified, with particular attention paid to civilian safety.
The Latvian Air Force Control and Reporting Centre provided guidance and control to the Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets participating in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission and coordinated the unmanned aerial system neutralization operation that took place in Estonia.
The Estonian Defence Forces report that on May 19, an unmanned aerial vehicle was detected in Estonian airspace, most likely having deviated from its originally planned route due to electronic interference. During the incident, the unmanned aerial system entered Estonian airspace from Russian airspace in the southeastern part of the country, moving in a northeastern direction. The unmanned aerial system was most likely of Ukrainian origin.
The operation took place under conditions of electronic warfare, including GPS signal jamming and spoofing. Prior to neutralization, the object remained under continuous surveillance by airspace monitoring units.
In Latvia, allied fighter jets did not identify any targets in the potential locations of the object. Historically and technically, there have been known cases where various factors detected by radars and sensors (objects and environmental factors) did not constitute a military threat.
As the situation was gradually assessed, the potential threat alert was lifted at 1:36 p.m. in the municipalities of Rēzekne, Preiļi, Madona, Cēsis, Gulbene, Smiltene, and Valmiera, while at 2:02 p.m. it was also lifted in Krāslava and Ludza municipalities.
The National Armed Forces emphasize that Latvia has not opened its airspace to Ukrainian drones for strikes against Russia and has not permitted the Armed Forces of Ukraine to conduct strikes on Russia from Latvian territory. At the same time, Latvia continues to provide maximum support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to learn from the world’s leading experts in drone deployment for the defence of the country.
Latvia’s national leadership has tasked the National Armed Forces with warning the public about potential threats. Cell broadcast alerts are sent in order to warn residents in a timely manner, as objects can change course very quickly and situations may evolve rapidly. In such cases, public safety and early notification are the priority, even if a border violation has not been confirmed.
The National Armed Forces urge residents to follow only official sources of information and comply with instructions issued by the responsible authorities.
Information Analysis and Management Department
Communications Division
National Armed Forces
Joint Headquarters