Two more power distribution cabinets damaged on the Belarus border
Two more electrical cabinets powering border surveillance infrastructure were damaged on the Latvia-Belarus border over the past day. The State Border Guard says sabotage against IT infrastructure is more frequent than before.
Two more electrical distribution cabinets that power border surveillance infrastructure were damaged on the Latvia-Belarus border over the past 24 hours. State Border Guard Deputy Chief Ivars Ruskulis told the Saeima's Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion Committee on Wednesday. He said the total number of cabinets damaged so far is considerably higher, but did not give exact figures.
Monday's events
On Monday evening, a group of at least 20 illegal migrants, led by three masked guides, tried to cross the border illegally. The guides were armed, threatened soldiers of the National Armed Forces and actively pushed the migrants toward Latvia. The news agency LETA was told that, judging by the distance, they carried a pistol.
Several hours after the confrontation, masked individuals entered Latvian territory, damaged an electrical cabinet and stole two surveillance cameras. They returned to Belarus before a border guard unit could arrive.
The Border Guard's assessment
Border Guard Chief Guntis Pujāts suggested the masked people may not be Belarusian state service representatives but members of organised crime who exploit the goodwill of Belarusian services to move migrants. He noted that sabotage against information technology infrastructure is more common than before, while the fence is reportedly damaged about half as often as a year ago.
This year, nearly 12,000 people have been stopped from crossing the border illegally.
Enhanced border security regime
The government has extended the enhanced border security regime in the Belarus border area until the end of the year, citing the heightened flow of illegal migrants. It covers Ludza and the parishes of Ludza municipality, Krāslava and its municipality's parishes, Augšdaugava municipality, Daugavpils and Kaunata parish in Rēzekne municipality.
Last year the Border Guard prevented 12,046 attempts to cross illegally, while 31 migrants were allowed in on humanitarian grounds. In 2024, 5,388 people were stopped and 26 were admitted for humanitarian reasons.
