A pilot of an Italian fighter jet shot down a drone over Latvia last night
On the night of August 14, an Italian fighter jet participating in NATO’s air patrol mission over the Baltic states shot down a drone that had violated Latvian airspace. According to preliminary assessments by Latvian authorities, the drone was likely Ukrainian.
Following reports of the drone’s destruction, Braže clarified that an Italian fighter jet patrolling the Baltic airspace as part of the NATO mission opened fire on the aerial target.
“A foreign drone over eastern Latvia was shot down last night by our Italian allies,” said the head of the Latvian Foreign Ministry.
She also thanked Italy for its participation in the NATO air patrol mission.
An air raid alert was issued over eastern Latvia on the night of August 14. It was later reported that a fighter jet had shot down a drone that had violated the country’s airspace.
The type and exact origin of the drone were not initially disclosed. However, Latvian officials speculate that the drone may have been Ukrainian.
That same night, Ukrainian UAVs carried out another attack on the Russian city of Ust-Luga—a major port and industrial complex on the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
The circumstances surrounding how the drone entered Latvian airspace and its exact origin are currently being investigated.
This was reported by Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže
As a reminder, NATO fighter jets shot down a drone in Latvian airspace.
On August 14, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs commented on the incident involving the drone that violated the country’s airspace. According to him, the incident confirmed the effectiveness of Latvia’s air defense system.
