Defense
In the summer, a few weeks before Russia's occupation, volunteers were still evacuating people from the war-torn Lischiansk city in Ukraine. Latvian Television reported the story of Dasha and her colleagues, who supplied food and helped people to leave. Agnis Bisters, after seeing the story, then decided to hand over armored vans to these volunteers, LTV reported on January 29.
Latvian donors are sending military equipment manufactured locally to the Ukrainian army. Two months ago, the charity “Ziedot.lv” launched a donation-gathering campaign Labas ziņas (“Good News”) for the cause. Since then, EUR 439,768 has been donated. On Wednesday, January 25, the first military cargo traveled to Ukraine, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.
The Latvian Navy on January 25 took the wraps off its brand new combat uniforms.
Edvards Smiltēns, who is the speaker of Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, told Latvian Television January 24 that Ukraine might send Latvia a system that could help in the area of civil defense.
The National Armed Forces (NBS) have had a number of modern aircraft – 'Black Hawk' helicopters – delivered that are a significant improvement over their predecessors, which have been at the disposal of the armed forces so far. The President of Latvia Egils Levits visited the air force base on Monday, Latvian Television reported January 23.
Latvian military aid to Ukraine has reached 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) or approximately 370 million euros, Defense Minister Ināra Mūrniece (National Alliance) said January 23.
Latvia plans to train 2,000 soldiers of different levels of the Ukrainian Armed Forces this year, which will be twice as many as last year, the LETA newswire reported January 21, citing the Ministry of Defense.
Latvian Defense Minister Ināra Mūrniece was due to be in Estonia January 19 for a key meeting with her counterparts from NATO allies Estonia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Unfortunately it turned out that she was not able to attend due to adverse weather conditions preventing her from travelling. The Polish Defense Minister was also weather-bound, but the Lithuanian Minister made it to the Tapa military base. Nevertheless, all were able to speak remotely.
Latvia will send additional Stinger antiaircraft missiles, helicopters, machine guns, munitions, and unmanned aircraft to Ukraine, newswire LETA reported on January 18.
On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, a new and visceral exhibition opens at the Latvian War Museum.
A member of the Latvian National Guard (Zemessardze) died during a training exercise at the weekend, the National Armed Forces (NAF) confirmed January 16.
On January 10, 2023, Latvian Defense Minister Ināra Mūrniece met with Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur during a working visit to Tallinn.
Latvia could once again offer Ukraine "Stinger" anti-aircraft missile systems, Defense Minister Ināra Mūrniece (National Alliance) told Latvian Television January 10.
On January 4, the State Security Service detained a supporter of Russia whose activities in the Internet environment over the longer term were aimed at provoking hatred against Latvians and Ukrainians, as well as justifying and glorifying Russia's war against Ukraine, the VDD said January 9.
In the hackathon of the defense industry "Defence Makeathon Riga 2022", a special type of tourniquet has been produced that can be put on very quickly by a soldier in a crisis. Other innovative ideas are also developed, which will be produced in future, Latvian Television reported on January 9.
A planned low-altitude training flight of allied destroyers will take place on Tuesday, January 3, evening above Rīga, National Armed Forces (NBS) said on Twitter.
The Ministry of Interior (IeM) considers it necessary to extend the state of emergency in the border area of Belarus. The Ministry will also encourage to specify the right of border guards to apply physical force and special means to stop the flow of illegal immigrants in the law, LETA reported January 3.
Technology can now be just as powerful a weapon as armored machinery. This is why NATO member states including Latvia, plus NATO's allies members have taken a lead in generating innovations and sharpening their competitive edge.
Also during the Christmas holiday, a large number of illegal migrants were attempting to arrive in Latvia across the Belarusian border. From December 23 to 26, the border guard prevented 130 persons from attempting to cross the border, Latvian Television reported on December 27.
The Ministry of Interior of Latvia will not encourage the extension of the state of emergency in several areas along the Russian border, the Ministry's Secretary of State Dimitrijs Trofimovs told LETA.
In view of the current security risks in the region linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, as well as Russia's aggressive rhetoric towards Latvia, the State Security Service (VDD) asks Latvian residents not to travel to Russia and Belarus during the forthcoming holiday, according to a statement distributed by VDD on December 22.
December 19 sees Rīga host a 'Summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)' convened on the initiative of the Prime Minister of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš, with the support of the UK, as the framework nation. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is among the leaders attending.
Swedish defense company Saab has received orders for the RBS 70 NG ground-based air defense system and Giraffe 1X radar from the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the company said in a release December 14.
Latvia took delivery December 11 of the first 'Black Hawk' military helicopters its has ordered from the United States.
More U.S. artillery and aviation units will be located in Latvia in coming years, the Ministry of Defense told LETA on December 9.
NATO conducted a "large-scale, multinational vigilance activity, which trained the integration of high-end air Allied and Partner strike capabilities in an exercise area over the Baltic states on December 7, 2022," according to a release from the Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office December 8.
On December 19, Rīga will host a 'Summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)' convened on the initiative of the Prime Minister of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš, with the support of the UK, as the framework nation.
Lithuanian public media LRT reported December 7 that the United States is to "step up" its military presence in the Baltic states with similar moves following soon after in Latvia and Estonia.
The prosecutor's office has completed an investigation and in November handed the court a case for large-scale theft of various goods from army warehouses for nearly ten years. Latvian Television broadcast De Facto reported December 4 that there were also night-vision goggles among the missing items, which the Latvian army had been given by the U.S. What happened was major chaos in the storage and listing of army goods.
On December 2, at the Ādaži airfield, Defense Minister Artis Pabriks inspected two brand new "Tarragon" light aircraft manufactured by the Latvian company SIA "Pelegrin", purchased by the National Armed Forces.
Most important
Most read
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.