Russia's Gerbera drone debris discovered on Ventspils shore in Latvia has been confirmed
In a significant move, NATO has officially launched Operation Eastern Sentry, a joint operation involving several member states, in mid-September 2025. This decision was made shortly after multiple Russian violations of Polish airspace, with the operation aiming to strengthen deterrence and intercept further drone violations from Russia.
The operation, which includes Germany deploying four Eurofighter jets for armed patrols over Poland, France contributing three Rafale jets, Denmark providing two F-16 jets and a frigate, and other allies participating in air defense and surveillance coordinated by Allied Command Operations in Mons, Belgium, comes in response to the increasing number of Russian drone incursions in the region.
The trigger for this operation was the discovery of drone debris on the northwest coast of Latvia along the Baltic Sea on September 19, 2025. The debris was identified as part of a vertical stabilizer from a Russian Gerbera decoy drone. This finding underscores the risk of drone overspill from Russia's war in Ukraine into NATO territory.
Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Spruds confirmed the debris to be the tail section of a Russian Gerbera drone. NBS specialists also confirmed that the object was not explosive, but several Gerbera drones recovered in recent years were found to be carrying explosive payloads.
The Gerbera drone, originally developed as a decoy to mimic the radar signature of Shahed loitering munitions, has been repeatedly identified in neighboring countries in recent months. The discovery of the Gerbera drone in Latvia matches serial numbers of drones that previously violated Polish and Lithuanian airspace.
Authorities in Warsaw and Vilnius have urged NATO to increase assistance to prevent such incidents from becoming routine. The NBS continues to cooperate with the State Police in relation to this incident, and the NBS stressed that the object posed no danger to the public.
NATO fighters in Poland and Lithuania have been scrambled to intercept intruding drones, using air-to-air missiles against low-cost UAVs. The operation aims to not only deter further drone incursions but also to intercept and neutralize any potential threats posed by these drones.
As Operation Eastern Sentry continues, it serves as a testament to NATO's commitment to the collective defense of its member states and its readiness to respond to evolving threats in the region.
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