NATO fighter jets shot down a drone in Latvian airspace on June 8, 2026, after it entered from Russian territory. French aircraft, operating under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, destroyed the unmanned vehicle near the village of Berzgale, approximately 30 kilometers from the Russian border. The Latvian military attributed the incursion to Russian electronic warfare, suggesting the drone—likely Ukrainian—was knocked off course while targeting Russia. No injuries or property damage were reported.

This incident marks another spillover of the Ukraine war into neighboring NATO countries, following recent drone crashes in Romania and Moldova. In each case, Russian electronic interference has been cited as the cause of drones veering off target. Romania recently saw a maritime drone explode in Constanta port, while another Russian drone struck a residential building in May, injuring two. These events have intensified pressure on NATO to strengthen air and maritime defenses along its eastern flank.

Latvian officials praised the rapid response, with both the foreign and defense ministers highlighting the importance of allied coordination. The event underscores the growing risk of indirect conflict as Ukraine intensifies drone operations against Russian infrastructure, and Russia responds with electronic countermeasures that affect regional airspace. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the war is increasingly posing a direct threat to NATO’s eastern members.