Latvian New Law Allows Shooting Down Drones Spotted Over Military Bases

Latvian parliament has adopted amendments to the Law on aviation allowing the commanders to order forced landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle in order to protect the nation’s military interests.

The move comes after numerous reports of Russian drones near Baltic States' borders, as well as warships and submarines near Latvia's exclusive economic zone. Earlier, the Estonian Security Police warned about possible operations of Russian secret services in Estonia via spy drones, Ukraine Today reported Thursday.

Reconnaissance drones are allegedly widely used by Russia's special services in its neighbouring states. In eastern Ukraine, border guards and military have repeatedly spotted unmanned aerial vehicles coming from the Russian territory.

Last week, the Ukrainian military shot down a militant-controlled drone flying over the village of Smolianynove, 17 km from the town of Ukrainian-held Sievierodonetsk. In April, a drone originating from Russia was shot down, which was used to observe the area in bad weather conditions, as well as to drop light goods.

Currently, NATO is considering sending international battalions to Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, where soldiers are supposed to undergo regular rotation. The troops will be provided by Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.