The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) issued an official statement on Tuesday, directly threatening Latvia and other NATO member states with retaliation. The SVR claims that Ukraine intends to launch drones into Russian territory from Latvian military bases, actions Moscow has labeled as "terrorist attacks."
This statement, shared in Spanish on the Russian Embassy in Cuba's Facebook page, alleges that Ukrainian personnel from the Unmanned Systems Force have already been stationed at five Latvian military bases: Adazi, Selija, Lielvarde, Daugavpils, and Jekabpils.
The core warning from the SVR is unambiguous: "NATO membership does not shield terrorist accomplices from deserved retribution."
The SVR also cautioned that "the coordinates of decision-making centers in Latvian territory are well known," a clear reference to government and military installations in the Baltic nation.
Riga's response was swift and unequivocal. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže dismissed the accusations on social media platform X with two firm statements: "Latvia does NOT allow its airspace for attacks against Russia" and "Russia lies again."
Ukraine also rejected the claims, asserting that its forces do not operate from Latvian territory or airspace.
The same day, Russia's ambassador to the UN reiterated these accusations before the Security Council, elevating the issue to a multilateral level and broadening its propagandistic reach.
Tensions in the Baltic Region
The SVR's statement comes amid ongoing tensions in the Baltic region. On Tuesday, a NATO fighter jet shot down a drone—allegedly Ukrainian—in Estonian airspace, near Võrtsjärv and Põltsamaa, an incident that Moscow quickly used to bolster its narrative.
There have been numerous precedents. On March 25, 2026, two Ukrainian drones inadvertently entered Latvian and Estonian airspace during a massive attack on Russia. In April, Russia released a list of 21 European companies producing drones for Ukraine, including facilities in Latvia, which Dmitri Medvedev described as a "list of potential targets" with the threat: "Sleep well, European partners."
On March 18, Russia violated Estonian airspace with a Su-30SM fighter jet. On April 7, Portuguese NATO jets intercepted a Russian Il-76 military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, marking the first such operation by the Portuguese detachment in Estonia.
Russia's Propaganda Strategy in Latin America
The dissemination of the SVR's statement in Spanish through the Russian Embassy in Cuba indicates a deliberate strategy to amplify its reach in Latin America, leveraging diplomatic channels as platforms for informational warfare.
Latvia has been a NATO member since March 29, 2004, meaning any attack on its territory could trigger Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which stipulates that an attack on one ally is an attack on all. Russia's threat openly challenges this principle of collective defense.
Understanding Russia's Threats Against Latvia and NATO
What prompted Russia's threat to Latvia and NATO?
Russia threatened Latvia and NATO, alleging that Ukraine plans to use Latvian bases to launch drone attacks on Russian territory, which Moscow considers as "terrorist attacks."
How did Latvia respond to Russia's accusations?
Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braže categorically denied the accusations, stating that Latvia does not permit its airspace for attacks against Russia and accused Russia of lying.
What are the implications of Russia's threats for NATO?
Russia's threats challenge NATO's principle of collective defense, which could potentially activate Article 5 of the NATO treaty, treating an attack on a member as an attack on all members.