Latvia’s Air Force identified a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle that entered the country’s airspace from Russia before crashing in the southeastern Krāslava district. The Latvian Ministry of Defence reported early warning systems detected an explosion-like sound, with drone debris later found near Dobročina village.
Military radar tracked the object crossing the border at 2:19 a.m. on March 25, 2026, confirmed by Egils Leščinskis, deputy chief of the Joint Staff of the National Armed Forces. Acoustic sensors detected it, leading to air defense deployment. The object detonated around 2:30 a.m. No civilians were injured, and no infrastructure damage occurred.
Armed forces, state police, and border guard secured the site, with an investigation underway. Leščinskis noted searches continue for all parts, as the drone’s manufacturer and exact origin remain unidentified despite entry from Russian airspace. He suggested it may have veered off course or been impacted by electronic warfare near technical sites.
Sensors earlier detected another object from Belarus at 12:50 a.m., which turned back toward Russia; coordination seems unlikely. This follows a September 2024 Shahed-type drone crash in Gaigalava parish from Belarus, likely due to Ukrainian countermeasures, and a Gerbera decoy drone fragment washing ashore near Ventspils in September 2025.
Latvia imposed partial eastern airspace restrictions in October 2025 for enhanced surveillance. The incident echoes a recent Lithuanian case where a Ukrainian drone strayed near Belarus.