NATO fighter jets down drone over Latvia linked to 'Russian electromagnetic warfare'

As a precaution, Finland temporarily restricted airspace and a sea area in the eastern Gulf of Finland following the incident.

Published: August 14, 2026 8:23am

Updated: August 14, 2026 8:35am

NATO fighters shot down a drone over eastern Latvia on Friday, according to Latvian armed forces. Authorities are linking the incident to "Russian electromagnetic warfare." 

Aircraft taking part in NATO's Baltic Air patrol mission destroyed the drone, CNBC reported

Authorities in Latvia said the downed drone was “a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle” that had "flown into Latvia as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare." 

As a precaution, Finland temporarily restricted airspace and a sea area in the eastern Gulf of Finland following the incident. No drones entered Finland, according to the Finnish Defense Forces, and airspace restrictions were lifted shortly after 7 a.m. local time Friday. 

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said in a statement posted on X that the incident "reminds us that we must continue to strengthen the surveillance and anti-drone capabilities of Latvia’s eastern border in order to be able to detect, identify and neutralize any potential threat as quickly as possible.”

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News