RIGA, May 7 (LETA) - In addition to the two drones that crashed in Latgale in the early hours of Thursday, a third unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flew into Latvian airspace and then left, the National Armed Forces (NAF) informed LETA.

In connection with these incidents, the Latvian military flew its own drones in Latgale to conduct air surveillance and monitor the situation. Thus, the drones spotted by Rezekne residents in the sky over the city after sunrise were UAVs of the Latvian armed forces, NAF representatives told LETA.

The NAF continues to operate its drones today to assess the current situation following the airspace threat. Also in response to the threat, NATO fighter jets participating in the Baltic Air Policing Mission were promptly scrambled to patrol airspace along Latvia's eastern border for several hours, the NAF said.

As LETA reported, several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, flew into Latvian airspace from Russia in the early hours of Thursday, and at least one of them crashed in Rezekne, damaging an oil storage facility.

At the request of the National Armed Forces (NAF), a cell broadcast notification was sent out by the State Fire and Rescue Service to residents of the municipalities of Ludza, Balvi, and Rezekne.

Even after sunrise, drones could be seen and heard in the air over Rezekne, eyewitnesses reported. Residents also reported noises similar to fighter jets.

Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) said in an interview with Latvian Television that the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF), together with NATO allies, were exercising maximum control over Latvian airspace. NATO fighter jets were also in the air, the minister added.

The NAF notes that while Russian aggression in Ukraine is ongoing, there is a risk of recurrence of incidents of foreign drones entering or approaching Latvian airspace.