Latvia closes airspace along eastern border in response to Russian drone incursion in Poland

Latvia will close the airspace near its borders with Belarus and Russia starting at 6:00 p.m. on September 11 and keep it closed until at least September 18, Defense Minister Andris Spruds said on Thursday.

The minister said the move is a preventive measure in response to the incursion of Russian drones into Poland during an attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, though he stressed that Latvia currently faces no direct threat from Russia.

Meanwhile, the Latvian parliament has referred a proposal to the national security committee to fully close the country’s borders with Belarus and Russia during their upcoming Zapad-2025 military exercises, which are scheduled to take place in Belarus from September 12 to 16.

The proposal was submitted by the National Alliance party, whose members are calling on Prime Minister Evika Siliņa to order the border closure immediately, according to the Delfi news agency.