Latvia will close its airspace on the eastern border with Russia and Belarus for a week due to the incursion of Russian drones into Poland. This was stated by Latvian Defense Minister Adris Spruds, quoted by DPA, BTA reports.
The order will be valid until September 18, with the possibility of extension, Spruds announced at a press conference in Riga.
The minister defined the entry of Russian drones as a clear violation of NATO airspace and stressed that Latvia must react firmly. He assured citizens that there is no direct threat to the country, but preventive measures are imperative. According to him, closing the airspace will make it easier to detect unauthorized aircraft.
“Russian drones in NATO airspace are a warning signal and we must do everything possible to prevent an escalation of drone attacks“, said Spruds.
Yesterday, Poland reported that 19 Russian drones had entered its airspace after an attack on Ukraine. Some of them were shot down by Polish and Dutch fighter jets. This is the first time Russian drones have been destroyed over NATO territory, DPA notes.
The Russian Defense Ministry assured on the social network “Telegram“ that “there are no plans to strike Polish infrastructure“.