Air raid alert declared in Latvia at night: it became known where an unknown object might have fallen

The object, presumably fallen tonight on the territory of Latvia, is located in the Tilža area of the Balvi region. This was reported to the LETA agency by the chairman of the Balvi regional council, Jānis Trupovnieks. At the same time, the local government head emphasized that he currently has no more detailed information about the incident. The National Armed Forces (NAF) continue search operations to establish the exact location of the object and clarify the circumstances of the incident. ### The highest level of alert was declared at night On the night of November 3, an orange-level warning was declared in Latvia regarding a threat in the airspace. The alarm signal was received at 00:10, and around 00:35, the NAF reported the cancellation of the warning. Thus, the elevated threat level lasted for approximately 25 minutes. The orange level is the highest of the two warning levels provided. When it is declared, residents are urged to take shelter indoors and follow the two-wall rule — to stay in a part of the building separated from the street by at least two walls. In connection with the incident, NATO mission fighter jets were deployed to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states. ### Searches continue in the Balvi region According to initial information from the National Armed Forces, the unknown object fell in the Balvi region. The local council chairman clarified that it concerns the territory near Tilža. However, the exact location of the fall has not yet been established, and the nature of the object itself has not been officially confirmed. To clarify the circumstances of the incident, the military continues ground searches. ### What to do if a suspicious object is found? The National Armed Forces urge residents to exercise caution. If an unknown object or debris that may be related to the incident is found, it is necessary to: - Not approach the suspicious object. - Not touch it or attempt to move it. - Immediately report the find to the emergency services at the unified emergency number 112. The military emphasizes the need to follow these safety measures until responsible services arrive. ### Incidents with drones have already occurred in Latvia Throughout 2026, residents of Latgale and Vidzeme repeatedly received warnings through the cellular alert system about a possible threat in the airspace. In several cases, unmanned aerial vehicles fell on the territory of Latvia and exploded. One drone was shot down. Previous incidents were related to the approach to or penetration into Latvian airspace by drones, presumably used in the Russo-Ukrainian war. Some warnings were issued as a preventive measure, even when drones did not cross the state border. The NAF previously warned that against the backdrop of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, such cases may recur. At the moment, the military has not confirmed that the object being detected in the Balvi region is a drone. Its origin and the circumstances of the fall are yet to be established.