Latvian Forces Find Foreign UAV Drone in Liepna Parish After October 18 Report

LATVIA — On October 24, Latvia’s National Armed Forces (NBS) said a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle was found in Liepna parish of Alūksne municipality, and that the vehicle likely entered Latvian airspace on October 18.

The NBS said it received a report of a sound resembling an explosion in the parish on October 18. In cooperation with the State Police, the forces began a search for the possible crash site. After two days the search was suspended because the information available was insufficient to confirm the actual circumstances of the incident.

The NBS said the circumstances are under investigation and that a service review has been initiated to assess the course of the incident and related decisions.

No civilians were injured, civilian infrastructure was not damaged, and no further threat has been identified, the NBS said. The NBS has also said that the war begun by Russia in Ukraine and related military activity continue to create security risks in the region, and that Russian electronic warfare means can affect unmanned aerial vehicle communications and navigation systems, so similar incidents in which foreign unmanned aerial vehicles approach or enter Latvian airspace cannot be excluded.

Location

The incident site is in Liepna parish, Alūksne municipality, in eastern Latvia, approximately 57.35 degrees north latitude, 27.51 degrees east longitude. The parish lies in a rural, forested area near the border with Russia, roughly 34 miles (55 km) east of the municipal center of Alūksne.

Official Statements

• National Armed Forces, October 24: “On October 24, in Liepna parish of Alūksne municipality, a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle was found, which likely entered Latvia’s airspace on October 18. Following a report of a sound resembling an explosion, the National Armed Forces, in cooperation with the State Police, initiated a search for the possible crash site. After two days of search operations, they were suspended because the initially obtained information was insufficient to confirm the actual circumstances of the incident. Currently, the circumstances of the incident are being investigated, and a service review has been initiated to assess the course of the incident and related circumstances. No civilians were injured in the incident, civilian infrastructure was not damaged, and no further threat has been identified.”

• National Armed Forces, October 24 update: “We inform that soldiers from the Explosive Device Disposal Platoon of the 54th Combat Support Battalion of the National Guard’s 2nd Vidzeme Brigade have completed the removal of fragments of the found drone from the crash site, thereby concluding operations at the scene. The National Armed Forces continue to cooperate with the State Police and other responsible services to clarify the circumstances of the incident.”

• State Police, October 24: “This morning, the State Police received information that possible debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle had been found in a forest in Liepna parish, Alūksne municipality. Upon arriving at the scene and inspecting the hard-to-reach forest area, the information was confirmed.”

• State Police, October 24 update: “Information updated at 18:50. The State Police has finished work at the scene today, while investigative activities will continue. In connection with the incident, a criminal process has been initiated under Chapter 10 of the Criminal Law. The State Police thanks the resident for responsible action in this situation and immediate reporting to the police.”

• National Armed Forces, October 19: “We have checked the information and video recording received yesterday, October 18, related to a possible foreign unmanned aerial vehicle falling and detonating in Alūksne municipality. By analyzing radar system data and surveying the territory where the unidentified object might have fallen, the information about the incident was not confirmed.”