Latvia issued an air alert today in the Ludza and Kraslava districts after an unidentified flying object, most likely a drone, crossed the Russian border and entered Latvian airspace, the armed forces said.

The military sent an urgent warning to people's mobile phones. The alert was set at orange, the higher level.

The army called on residents to take shelter indoors at once and follow the "two walls rule": stay in a part of the building that is separated from the outside by at least two walls.

The defence forces tracked the situation throughout with NATO allies. The alert was brief and was lifted after the military confirmed the threat had passed.

The army says that because of the war between Russia and Ukraine, such incidents, and foreign drones entering Baltic airspace, have become common.