French Fighter Jet Shoots Down Drone Over Latvia After Incursion From Russia

Jun 8, 2026

A French Rafale fighter jet on a NATO mission shot down a drone over Latvia on June 8 after it entered from Russia. Latvian officials attribute the incursion to Russian electronic warfare diverting the drone. The event, which caused no damage, is the latest in a series of similar incidents in Moldova, Romania, and Estonia, fueling concerns that Russia's war in Ukraine could spill over into NATO territory.

French jet downs drone

▪A French military Rafale fighter jet shot down a drone over Latvia on June 8, 2026
▪The final decision to shoot down the drone was made by NATO command
▪Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs praised the "swift decision-making and professional action" in response to the incident
▪The drone was shot down near the village of Berzgale, about 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, with no reported injuries or damage

Russian electronic warfare interference

▪Russia uses electronic jamming technology to divert Ukrainian attack drones, which Ukraine says causes them to stray into neighboring countries
▪The Latvian military stated the drone entered its airspace from Russia "as a result of Russian electronic warfare."

NATO Baltic Air Police

▪A NATO official said the event shows the alliance's "determination and ability to deter and defend."
▪The French jet involved is part of the NATO Baltic Air Police mission, which has patrolled the skies of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia since 2004
▪The French jets in the mission operate from Siauliai airbase in northern Lithuania and are joined by Romanian and Portuguese F-16 fighters

Ukraine war spillover concerns

▪The incident is one of several recent drone incursions that have stoked concerns of the Russia-Ukraine war spilling over into NATO territory
▪The issue of drone incursions reportedly led to the resignation of former Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina in May 2026

Eastern European drone incursions

▪In late May 2026, a Russian drone hit an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people
▪On the same day, June 8, 2026, fragments of a Ukrainian drone were found in Moldova, an incident also blamed on Russia
▪On May 19, 2026, a Romanian fighter jet on a NATO mission shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia