Russian Drones Violate Latvian and Romanian Airspace

Several drones entered Latvian and Romanian airspace on May 7, 2026, coinciding with a massive Ukrainian drone assault on Russian regions. In Latvia, at least two drones crashed in the Latgale region; one struck an empty oil storage facility in Rēzekne, damaging four tanks and causing a small fire. The intrusions triggered emergency alerts and school closures in Ludza, Balvi, and Rēzekne. While Andris Spruds, the Latvian Defence Minister, initially suggested the drones may have been launched by Ukraine against Russian targets, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs later summoned the Russian Chargé d'Affaires to protest the incursions and deny that Latvia permitted its airspace for attacks on Russia.

Simultaneously, a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace near Chilia in Tulcea County. The Romanian Ministry of National Defense deployed two F-16 aircraft to monitor the situation and issued alerts to the local population. Romania has reported repeated incursions in the Dobrogea region, leading to the construction of air-raid bunkers and a 40% decline in tourism in Tulcea between 2023 and 2025.

In response to these vulnerabilities, Latvian and Lithuanian officials urged NATO to increase regional anti-drone capabilities. The European Union and NATO are currently drafting plans for a coordinated drone wall along the eastern flank. To address technical failures in existing air defenses, the U.S. Army has begun training Romanian and Polish soldiers on the Merops defense system. In Latvia, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa criticized delays in emergency warnings, prompting a military review of response algorithms.