Fragments of a drone of currently unknown origin were discovered on Wednesday in Silmala parish of Rēzekne Municipality, according to the State Police.
A local resident reported to the emergency number 112 that what appeared to be debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle had been found in the area. Police immediately responded to the scene and confirmed the information.
At present, police are working at the site together with the National Armed Forces (NBS) and the municipal police of Rēzekne Municipality. The area has been cordoned off.
Authorities have confirmed that the debris is not explosive and currently poses no threat to the public. A criminal investigation has been initiated under the section of the Criminal Law concerning crimes against the state.
The circumstances of the incident are still being clarified.
According to Roberts Skraučs, communications adviser to NBS Commander Kaspars Pudāns, military engineers who arrived at the scene determined that the site is not dangerous.
The NBS is currently analysing airspace monitoring system data to determine the details of the incident. The country of origin of the drone remains unknown.
Skraučs also stressed that there is currently no threat to Latvia’s airspace.
Defence Minister Andris Sprūds stated that he has ordered a full investigation into the incident. “We will continue to closely monitor the situation,” he wrote on social media, confirming that the debris is not hazardous and poses no danger to residents.
Police remind the public that if a suspicious drone or its debris is discovered, people should immediately call 112,
providing details on the location, time, and any other relevant information. Under no circumstances should individuals approach the object or its fragments.
Authorities also urge the public not to spread unverified information and instead to provide any photos or video materials to the police.
As previously reported, on Monday evening the Latvian military detected a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle near the Latvia–Russia border, close to Ludza Municipality and Balvi Municipality. Cell broadcast alerts were activated to inform residents.
The aircraft did not enter Latvian airspace, and once it moved away, a follow-up message announced that the threat had ended.
It was also reported that last week drones entered and exploded in all three Baltic states.
Most likely, these were intended for targets in Russia as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression but were diverted or disrupted by electronic warfare.
In Latvia, one drone entered national airspace from Russia during the night into Wednesday and exploded in Krāslava Municipality, about one kilometre from the centre of Svariņi parish. Another briefly entered from Belarusian territory before heading toward Russia.
These incidents have sparked public debate over the need for timely alerts to residents via cell broadcast systems.
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