Latvia will extend the closure of its airspace zone along the eastern border with Belarus and Russia during nighttime hours, from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., starting on October 8, and continuing until further notice, the Ministry of Defence reports.
According to the ministry, this decision follows recent airspace violations in other NATO countries and aims to ensure that the National Armed Forces (NAF) can continue enhanced airspace surveillance, conduct drone and counter-drone simulations, deploy and train mobile combat units, and improve operational readiness.
Defence Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) stated that the continued nighttime closure of Latvia’s airspace in the border zone was linked to NATO’s “Eastern Sentry” operations, as well as coordination with other Baltic States.
As previously reported, NATO’s “Eastern Sentry” planning and coordination with other eastern flank allies is ongoing to strengthen airspace monitoring – particularly the ability to detect and neutralize low-flying aerial objects.
Initially, Latvia’s airspace near the eastern border was closed from September 11 to 18.
The restrictions apply only to aircraft flying below six kilometers in altitude, while other flights are permitted to pass through the zone. The restriction period was later extended until October 8.
The decision to impose airspace restrictions followed incidents in Poland, where Russian attack drones violated Polish airspace – some of which were shot down after posing a direct threat.
According to the National Armed Forces, there is no immediate military threat to Latvia. However, during the ongoing “Namejs 2025” national defense exercise, the armed forces remain on heightened alert.
To mitigate the threat of drones, Latvia’s eastern border is permanently monitored by NAF air defense units ready to shoot down hostile drones if necessary. NATO’s air patrol mission has also been reinforced, and new acoustic airspace monitoring systems are being deployed.
Over the past year, Latvia has amended national regulations in cooperation with “Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme” (Latvian Air Navigation Services) to allow for rapid airspace closures in case of security threats. Additional changes have strengthened flight control measures in Latvia’s eastern airspace.
During the comprehensive “Namejs 2025” national defense exercise, Defence Minister Spruds instructed the armed forces to increase readiness for enhanced monitoring of Latvia’s air, information, and cyber domains, as well as to alert all National Guard members to assess their readiness to report to units and carry out combat tasks. (BNN)