NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace amid heightened security concerns across Europe.

NATO Jets Shoot Down Drone Over Latvian Airspace

Baltic States Heighten Vigilance Following Recent Drone Incursions

By News Desk On Aug 14, 2026

Latvian: (News Desk) – NATO fighter jets shot down a drone after it entered Latvian airspace, Latvia’s Defence Ministry and armed forces confirmed Friday, amid growing concern across Europe over a series of unauthorised drone incursions.

The Defence Ministry said on X that allied fighter aircraft had successfully destroyed a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle that entered Latvia as a result of Russian electronic warfare. The Latvian armed forces later confirmed that the threat had been neutralised.

Latvia, a NATO and European Union member with a population of around 1.9 million, shares a border with Russia. The country, along with other nations on NATO’s eastern flank, has faced several incidents involving drones entering its airspace.

Neighbouring Finland also introduced temporary restrictions on aviation and maritime activity in the eastern Gulf of Finland on Friday. Finnish defence authorities said the precautionary measures were intended to protect the public and ensure authorities remained prepared to respond to potential drone threats.

The latest developments came as the Russia-Ukraine war continues to fuel security concerns across Europe.

Meanwhile, Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region reported another wave of drone activity. Regional Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said Russian air defences had destroyed 54 Ukrainian drones. He added that a fire broke out at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga following the attack.

The latest incident in Latvia follows a similar episode earlier this week, when French fighter aircraft assigned to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission shot down a drone over the country. That incident was described as the first time NATO’s rapid-reaction capability had downed a stray drone over Latvian territory.

Drone-related disruptions have also been reported elsewhere in Europe. German authorities recently discovered an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig Airport, while operations at Hanover Airport were disrupted after another drone entered restricted airspace.