Latvia Detains Couple Suspected of Spying for Russia

Latvia has detained two of its citizens on suspicion of collecting and passing information on the country’s defense sector to Russian intelligence, Latvian authorities have said. The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) said the two suspects gave Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) information about Latvia’s defense systems, the activities of NATO allies and on the forms of support for Ukraine. JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The case comes amid heightened concern across NATO’s eastern flank over Russian sabotage and other hybrid operations targeting countries supporting Ukraine. The couple was detained on June 28 in cooperation with the Latvia’s Defense Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD). Criminal proceedings have been opened against them on suspicion of collecting and transferring non-disclosable material and other information to a foreign intelligence service. According to the VDD, the suspects also gathered information about a Latvian National Armed Forces aviation base, radar systems and the movements of military aircraft. One of the suspects allegedly carried out reconnaissance of the Ādaži Military Base, one of Latvia’s key military facilities and home to NATO’s multinational brigade in the country. The suspect apparently took aerial photographs of the facility using a small private aircraft on behalf of the GRU. Other Topics of Interest Russian Attack Kills 1 in Kyiv High-Rise, Shuts Down Bridges Across the Capital Kyiv closed three major bridges after overnight strikes as air defenses intercepted or suppressed 88 of 108 Russian drones, officials said. Authorities also allege that the pair carried out activities that could support potential Russian intelligence and sabotage groups operating in Latvia. On the day of the arrests, the VDD and MIDD searched three locations in Riga and Ādaži municipality in central Latvia. They seized electronic data storage devices, documents, and notes, which are being examined as part of the investigation. “The suspects have been taken into custody as a security measure,” the VDD said in a statement. The investigation continues, with the VDD saying it will provide further information as the case progresses. TVP World is Poland's first English-language channel where you can find our guest interviews, world news from the Polish perspective and the latest news from the CEE region.