Ukraine and Latvia dismiss Russian claims of strikes being prepared from Latvian territory as lies

Ukraine and Latvia have rejected claims by Russian intelligence alleging that Riga had allowed Kyiv to use Latvian territory or airspace for strikes on Russian regions.

Source: European Pravda citing statements by Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi on X (Twitter)

Details: On Tuesday 19 May, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service claimed that Ukraine was preparing strikes on Russian regions from Latvian territory.

Rinkēvičs rejected the accusation, saying Russia was lying.

"Russia is lying about Latvia allowing any country to use Latvian airspace and territory to launch attacks against Russia or any other country," he said.

Tykhyi, for his part, stressed that Ukraine does not use Latvian territory or airspace in its operations against Russia and has no intention of doing so.

"Russian lies are merely an extension of its broader propaganda campaign aimed at destabilising public opinion in Latvia and the wider Baltics. We thank our Latvian friends for seeing right through them," he added.

Background:

• Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds recently announced his resignation following a new wave of criticism after two stray drones caused damage in Latvia for the first time on 7 May – both exploded on the territory of an oil storage facility.
• The minister said he was ready to take responsibility and resign if the Saeima decided this needed to be done.

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