Latvia declares an air alert on the Russian border, object falls in Balvi municipality

Latvia’s armed forces (NBS) issued an orange warning of a threat in the airspace over Balvi and Ludza municipalities in the east of the country, on the border with Russia, shortly after midnight on 3 November 2026. Residents were told to stay indoors, follow the “two-wall rule” and call 112 if they saw a low-flying or suspicious object. The warning lasted about half an hour – from about 00:10 to 00:35 local time according to LETA; the public broadcaster LSM gives 00:07–00:33.

Object fell in Balvi municipality

According to the army’s initial information, the object fell in Balvi municipality. A ground search is continuing to establish the exact site and the circumstances. Jānis Trupovnieks, chairman of the Balvi municipal council, said the object fell near Tilža, but added that he had no further details. The NBS has not said what the object was or where it came from.

Fighters of NATO’s Baltic air policing mission were scrambled. The army did not say which country’s aircraft took part or whether they opened fire.

The NBS urged residents not to approach or touch suspicious objects or debris and to report them to 112 immediately.

Second alert in two nights

The previous night Latvia declared and then lifted an air alert in Ludza and Krāslava municipalities after, according to the army, an unidentified flying object crossed the border. On 14 August NATO fighters shot down a drone over Rugāji, also in Balvi municipality; according to LSM it was identified as a Ukrainian drone that most likely entered from Belarus under the influence of Russian electronic warfare. The NBS says such incursions may recur while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.

Flank will update this story when the army says what the object was and where it came from.