Latvian President addresses nation in Aglona after drone shot down near border

As Saturday's Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary reached its climax in Aglona with a midday Holy Mass, President Edgars Rinkēvičs took the opportunity to address the public in person. His office said the move was linked to the current security situation and marked the first time since entering office that he has spoken to the public in this way at Aglona.

In his remarks, Rinkēvičs acknowledged that security concerns sometimes force people to change their daily plans — waking earlier, arriving later, or leaving tasks unfinished. He stressed that even during the brightest and most peaceful occasions, security must remain a priority, noting that recent events show threats from the sky can recur, both in Latgale and elsewhere in the world. He thanked the services that safeguard security daily, adding that responsibility for the country's safety rests with everyone together.

Call for balance and unity

The president urged society to find a middle path between excessive alarm and indifference — acting calmly and purposefully, including moving to a safe location even when danger seems unlikely, then reflecting afterward on how to feel more secure in similar situations in future. He also warned against hatred in society, amplified by anonymous comments on social media, stressing that hostility toward others — regardless of ethnicity, race or religion — hinders the country's development and unity. He called on everyone in Latvia to respect the state's values, culture and language.

Context: the downed drone

The address followed events on Friday morning, when residents of the Augšdaugava, Preiļi, Rēzekne, Balvi and Alūksne municipalities were warned of a threat in the airspace. Fighter jets from NATO's Baltic air policing mission shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace near Lake Boževa in Balvi municipality, reportedly after straying off course due to Russian electromagnetic warfare. No people or property were harmed, and by Saturday morning the National Armed Forces had completed work to safely destroy the drone. Because of the situation, Rinkēvičs cut short his vacation, which had begun on August 8.