EUROPE / FOREIGN DRONE EVENTS

Crash · Latvia

Latvian president says drone that crashed near Krāslava was Ukrainian

· Krāslava region

Reported foreign

On the morning of 25 March 2026 a military drone crashed in a rural area of the Krāslava region of Latvia. One additional account, from the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), places the crash at Dobročina.

Latvia’s president said the drone was Ukrainian. It entered Latvia through Russian airspace during Ukrainian strikes on targets in Russia. Why it came down in Latvia, whether through malfunction or diversion, has not been demonstrated.

No casualties were reported. Latvian authorities recovered and investigated the wreckage. A stray drone was also reported in Estonia the same day, and the Baltic defence ministers issued a joint statement on the drone incidents.

Show on the interactive map →

Image from the Estonian Ministry of Defence report: Joint statement by Baltic defence ministers on drone incidents
Image · Estonian Ministry of Defence · Open report ↗
Latvian Television caption over a rural field in the Krāslava region, reporting a drone that entered from Russia and fell.
Video · LTV Ziņu dienests · Open report ↗Additional coverage, not one of the register’s sources.
Twisted drone wreckage among trees in Krāslava municipality, in a Latvian Television report on the overnight crash.
Video · LTV Ziņu dienests · Open report ↗Additional coverage, not one of the register’s sources.

Attribution and uncertainty

Origin / operator / attribution
Ukrainian according to Latvian president
Investigation / uncertainty
Ukrainian identification; precise malfunction/diversion mechanism not demonstrated.

Sources · 3

  1. Reuters ↗Stray Ukrainian drones in Estonia and Latvia, 25 March 2026
  2. OSW Centre for Eastern Studies ↗The Baltic states respond to incidents involving Ukrainian drones, 25 March 2026
  3. Estonian Ministry of Defence ↗Joint statement by Baltic defence ministers on drone incidents

Full record

CrashFlightRecovery

Map positions are approximate anchors for the named place, not verified incident coordinates.

Reported date
2026-03-25
Date basis
Morning 25 March; EET
Location / jurisdiction
Krāslava region; Dobročina in additional OSW account; EU land
Event categories
Incursion; crash; recovery
What was reported
Drone crashed in rural area.
Aircraft / vessel / quantity
1 military UAV
Origin / operator / attribution
Ukrainian according to Latvian president
Damage / casualties / disruption
No casualties reported
Response / outcome
Latvian authorities recovered/investigated wreckage.
Investigation / uncertainty
Ukrainian identification; precise malfunction/diversion mechanism not demonstrated.
Route / entry mechanism
Entered via Russian airspace during Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets
Explosive payload
Not reported
Counting / links
One incident record; no duplicate stages added.
Research provenance
Prior research; relevant event source rechecked during export

Record E007. Record fields keep the register’s original wording.