Latvia Deploys Mobile Groups With SAMs Near Border With Belarus

• 2.10.2024, 8:25

To intercept drones.

The Latvian Ministry of Defence has deployed mobile battle groups equipped with air defence missiles in Latgale, near the border with Belarus. There are also radars on the border, designed to detect unmanned aerial vehicles. This was reported by Defence Minister Andris Spruds.

He also posted a link to a report by the defence portal of Sargs about reinforcing the border. According to it, the mobile groups are armed with RBS-70 short-range SAMs (Swedish-made portable anti-aircraft missile system).

The Latvian Defence Ministry announced the border reinforcement in the first half of September after a Russian ‘Shahed’ type drone crashed in Rezekne region. Presumably, it was fired at Ukraine, but went off course and flew into Latvia, probably through the territory of Belarus.