Contents tagged with Latvia
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Latvia sees record surge in non-combat weapon parts from Russia
According to Delfi, Latvia saw a staggering 74.5% rise in imports of weapons, ammunition, parts, and accessories from Russia last year, reaching a record €796,774—the highest since 2005. However, Latvia's State Revenue Service clarified that the imports did not include combat weapons or other military goods.
Instead, the items comprised paintball gear, equipment repair, and underwater sports equipment accessories. Statistics indicate that imports in this category have been increasing over …
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Latvia begins production of Patria armored vehicles for Ukraine amid growing military collaboration
In a significant development, Latvia has started production of Patria armored vehicles for Ukraine, with the first batch already in assembly. Ukraine's Ambassador to Latvia, Anatoliy Kutsevol, visited the plant in Valmiera to observe the manufacturing process, the Ukrainian embassy in Latvia reported on February 4th.
The production in Latvia is overseen by Defense Partnership Latvia—a joint venture between Patria and the Latvian company Unitruck. The facility in Valmiera, operational since May …
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Latvia intensifies support for Ukraine with major drone donation initiative
Latvia is set to send a shipment of drones to bolster Ukraine's armed forces. This initiative is part of a charitable project designed to procure drones through public fundraising on the platform Ziedot.lv.
An event spotlighting this effort is slated for Monday, February 3, at the Ukrainian Embassy in Riga, Latvia, where officials will announce the dispatch of 100 drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reports Delfi. Key officials expected to attend include Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, …
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Underwater optical fiber cable between Latvia and Sweden damaged in Baltic Sea: Investigations underway
A major disruption has been reported with an optical fiber cable linking Latvia and Sweden beneath the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred on the morning of Sunday, January 26, as confirmed by the Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC), the owner of the cable connecting the Latvian city of Ventspils and the Swedish island of Gotland.
In response to the incident, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa convened a meeting of responsible agencies. Her Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, …
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Latvian Court sentences pro-Kremlin activist to one year for justifying Russian war crimes in Ukraine
In a significant ruling, a Latvian court has sentenced pro-Kremlin activist Elena Kreile to one year in prison for publicly justifying genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, according to news agency Leta. Kreile was penalized for wearing a bag with the symbol Z, emblematic of support for Russian aggression in Ukraine. Additionally, she demonstrated solidarity with Russian aggression during rallies supporting Ukraine outside the Russian embassy in Riga and routinely engaged in …
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Russian military drone crashes in Eastern Latvia
A Russian military drone has crashed in eastern Latvia, reported Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs' statement on social media platform X.
"Russian military drone has crashed in the Eastern part of Latvia yesterday. There is an ongoing investigation. We are in close contact with our allies. The number of such incidents is increasing along the Eastern flank of NATO and we must address them collectively.," said President Rinkēvičs.
He emphasized that the number of such incidents on NATO's …
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Latvian court sentences pro-Kremlin activist to three years for justifying Russian war crimes in Ukraine
A woman in Latvia has been sentenced to three years in prison for justifying Russian war crimes, according to reports.
The Riga City Court handed down the sentence after finding her guilty of glorifying Russian aggression.
The woman in question is Elena Kreyle, who is described by media outlets as a pro-Kremlin activist.
Kreyle is accused of publicly justifying Russia's war crimes in Ukraine, as well as genocide, crimes against humanity, peace crimes, and war crimes committed by the USSR in …
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Latvia to deliver €4 million worth of drones to Ukraine in July as part of major military aid effort
Ukraine's defense forces are set to receive a substantial shipment of drones from Latvia this July. These drones, worth €4 million, are being produced by Latvian companies to address the evolving needs of Ukrainian military forces on the battlefield.
Among these are various types of drones, including FPV (First-Person View) drones. Over 2,500 drones from seven Latvian companies will be delivered in stages throughout the month, announced the Latvian Ministry of Defense on 5th July, adding that …
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Latvian Foreign Minister: Ukraine has already received weapons from Western partners with permission to strike Russia
Latvia's newly appointed Foreign Minister Baiba Braže has said that Ukraine has received weapons from some Western partners with no restrictions on striking targets inside Russia. In an interview with Evropeyska Pravda, she discussed the evolving military support for Ukraine.
Publicly, Western partners have been providing Ukraine with weaponry on the clear understanding that it should not be used to launch strikes beyond its borders. However, Braže believes that such a stance is already …
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Latvia orders Russian citizens without residency permits to leave
The first citizens of the Russian Federation without residency permits have been ordered to leave Latvia, Riga's immigration service has reported to Der Standard.
The agency informed that six Russians have received notifications to leave the country. Maira Roze, the head of the immigration service, stated that two individuals have already left Latvia, while the remaining four are required to exit within 30 days.
According to the report, these actions stem from amendments to Latvia's …