Armed masked men push migrants at Latvian border, then cross from Belarus to sabotage it

On the night of 5–6 October 2026, in Kaplava parish (Krāslava municipality), armed, masked men on the Belarusian side tried to push a group of about 20 migrants into Latvia and threatened Latvian soldiers, who stopped the crossing. Several hours later masked individuals entered Latvian territory, damaged an electrical distribution cabinet and stole border surveillance cameras, then returned to Belarus before border guards arrived. A group calling itself 'Black Rus' (Chernye Rusy) claimed responsibility in a Telegram video, saying three members took part and threatening more sabotage.

Established by. Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava (X, 6 Oct 2026) said the escorts 'were armed, issued threats to (Latvian) soldiers' and that 'this time the provocation was particularly demonstrative and aggressive'; he warned Belarus of 'more serious consequences' (Kyiv Independent, UNITED24). The National Armed Forces called it a deliberate provocation and hybrid activity. Dombrava later suggested Russian or Belarusian intelligence could be behind it but called this a theory with no evidence yet (Meduza, citing LSM). The State Security Service (VDD) opened criminal proceedings on 9 Oct over creating a criminal organisation to commit crimes against peace and against Latvia and Ukraine (UNITED24, citing LSM). No official Latvian attribution to Russia or Belarus has been made.

Latest. Lukashenko called the incident a Latvian 'false flag' on 13 Oct (Kyiv Post). Jānis Sārts, director of the NATO StratCom Centre of Excellence in Riga, said the operation bore characteristics of one coordinated by Russian and Belarusian intelligence services; he is not a Latvian official. Polish border guards are helping Latvia monitor the Belarus border from 19 Oct to 1 Nov 2026 (LSM).

Link to the war against Ukraine. The VDD case covers crimes against peace and against Ukraine. It forms part of the hybrid pressure on the EU's eastern border by Russia's ally Belarus during the war.