The National Armed Forces of Latvia will continue the controlled neutralization of debris from a drone that was shot down earlier in the Rūgaine parish of the Balvi region on Saturday. During the operation, bomb disposal specialists will conduct a series of controlled detonations. As a result, explosions may be heard in the Rūgaine parish and surrounding areas. The military urges residents to remain calm and notes that no additional safety measures are required. All operations are carried out according to established procedures under the supervision of specialists. The drone was destroyed by NATO mission fighters patrolling the airspace of the Baltic states after it entered Latvian airspace. Preliminary information suggests that its deviation from course was caused by Russian electronic warfare systems. According to local authorities, the drone fell in a wooded area approximately five kilometers from the center of Rūgaine. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, and no property damage was recorded. The military had previously warned that the device was shot down at a high altitude. This means that its fragments could have scattered over a significant distance, so the neutralization process requires time and thorough area checks. Such operations may continue for several days if a large area needs to be surveyed and all identified hazardous elements safely disposed of. After the work is completed, the area will be declared safe, and the military will finish inspecting the drone's crash site.
