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Vue normale

Reçu aujourd’hui — 18 septembre 2025
  • ✇Euromaidan Press
  • Russian Gerbera drone wreckage washes onto Latvian beach after drifting from sea
    A fragment of a Russian military drone Gerbera washed up on a beach in Latvia’s Ventspils district on 18 September, drawing a response from the country’s armed forces and prompting renewed attention to Russia’s unmanned aircraft activity near NATO borders. Russia’s drone incursions into NATO countries like Poland, Romania, and the Baltic nations typically occur during large-scale aerial attacks on Ukraine. While many drones are aimed at Ukrainian targets, some deliberatel
     
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✇Euromaidan Press

Russian Gerbera drone wreckage washes onto Latvian beach after drifting from sea

Par :Yuri Zoria
18 septembre 2025 à 14:00

russian gerbera drone wreckage washes onto latvian beach after drifting sea tail section styrofoam bearing serial number starting cyrillic letters ыы washed ashore latvia’s ventspils district latvia fragment military up

A fragment of a Russian military drone Gerbera washed up on a beach in Latvia’s Ventspils district on 18 September, drawing a response from the country’s armed forces and prompting renewed attention to Russia’s unmanned aircraft activity near NATO borders.

Russia’s drone incursions into NATO countries like Poland, Romania, and the Baltic nations typically occur during large-scale aerial attacks on Ukraine. While many drones are aimed at Ukrainian targets, some deliberately cross into NATO airspace to test how alliance members respond. These cross-border flights allow Russia to probe radar coverage, measure reaction speed, and stretch NATO’s air defense posture.

The Gerbera drone features a cheap lightweight styrofoam-based fuselage, allowing for easy transport and rapid launch. Russia began actively deploying the model in 2024. During its regular air attacks on Ukraine, Russia uses dozens of Gerberas alongside Iranian-designed Shaheds to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. Shahed drones are capable of carrying up to 90 kg of explosives. While primarily intended as decoys, Gerberas have been modified to carry small explosive charges and onboard cameras, enabling them to transmit visual data from inside Ukraine. 

Latvian beachgoers find tail of washed-up Russian drone

The National Armed Forces of Latvia (NBS) reported that a tail section of a drone was discovered on a beach in Vārve parish, Ventspils district. Authorities said it was washed in from the Baltic Sea.

Sargs says Latvia’s State Police said initial information showed no threat had been identified at the site. Nonetheless, NBS dispatched an unexploded ordnance disposal team to analyze the wreckage and determine next steps.

“Such cases are not uncommon along the Latvian coast – remnants of munitions or fragments of other military objects are regularly found washed ashore,” Sargs noted.

Identified as Gerbera drone used by Russian forces

Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi noted that the wreckage was preliminarily identified as part of a Russian Gerbera drone. This model is actively used by Russia in its war against Ukraine and in provocations targeting NATO countries.

Militarnyi suggests that the drone parts may have entered the Baltic Sea during Russian combat or training missions and were then carried to the Latvian shore by currents. The outlet noted that such occurrences have been documented multiple times across the Baltic States.
russian gerbera drones
Russia’s Gerbera drones. Photo: Gastello Design Bureau

Recent Gerbera/Shahed incidents

In July, the first confirmed flights of Gerbera drones into the airspace of Baltic countries were recorded. These incidents reportedly caused serious concern among Lithuanian military and government officials.

The same type of drone was previously discovered in Lithuania in early August, having entered from Belarusian territory. 

On 10 September, Russia launched a mass incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, further confirming the growing threat along NATO’s eastern flank.

On 13 September, a Russian drone violated Romania’s airspace.

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