LATVIA SAYS SHOT-DOWN BALTIC DRONE WAS UKRAINIAN

Developing story: Technical analysis, Ukrainian responses, NATO assessments and electronic-warfare findings may change as Latvia releases additional details.

Latvia’s armed forces said Thursday that a drone that entered Latvian airspace on Aug. 14 and was shot down by an Italian fighter jet was Ukrainian, not Russian, according to Reuters. The finding complicates NATO’s airspace-security picture at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war is sending drones, missiles and debris near alliance borders more often.

The drone entered Latvia from Belarus and was destroyed by an Italian fighter jet stationed in the Baltics for NATO air-policing duties. Latvian authorities said they suspected the drone may have been diverted by Russian electronic warfare. That possibility makes the incident less straightforward than a simple Ukrainian breach or a deliberate Russian incursion.

The timing of the determination is important even though the airspace incident itself occurred days earlier. NATO members must rapidly assess whether a drone crossing into alliance territory is hostile, accidental, diverted or misidentified. Those conclusions shape rules of engagement, public messaging and diplomatic responses.

The case follows other recent cross-border incidents. Romania said a Spanish F-18 shot down a suspected Russian drone in Romanian airspace, and border states have repeatedly reported debris from attacks near Ukraine. Each incident raises the possibility of miscalculation between NATO and Russia, even when no government intends to broaden the war.

A Ukrainian drone entering Latvia is politically sensitive because Ukraine is a partner being supported by NATO countries, not an adversary. If Ukrainian systems stray into NATO territory, governments must maintain airspace security without undermining support for Kyiv or providing Moscow with propaganda opportunities.

Russian electronic warfare adds another layer. Jamming, spoofing or other interference can cause drones to lose navigation, deviate from course or cross borders unintentionally. If that is what happened, responsibility becomes harder to assign in simple terms, but NATO still must treat airspace violations as real safety risks.

The Baltic region is particularly exposed because it sits near Russia, Belarus and active war-related air routes. Italian aircraft deployed for NATO air policing are part of a rotating alliance mission designed to reassure eastern members and respond quickly to airspace threats.

What is confirmed is that Latvia identified the shot-down drone as Ukrainian and said it may have been diverted by Russian electronic warfare. What remains unresolved is the drone’s intended target, how it crossed into Latvia from Belarus and whether NATO will adjust its procedures for distinguishing Ukrainian, Russian and diverted drones near alliance territory.

Fact-check date: August 20, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Reuters; Latvian National Armed Forces; NATO. Developing note: Technical analysis, Ukrainian responses, NATO assessments and electronic-warfare findings may change as Latvia releases additional details.