The Cabinet of Ministers decided to extend the VILKATIS operation to combat the instrumentalisation of irregular migration at the border with Belarus until October 2026. Its goal is to significantly reduce the number of illegal border-crossings in eastern Latvia and to prevent cases in the future.
Initially, the operation was planned until September, but considering the damage caused to border infrastructure by the storm on 22-23 August 2026 and the situation related to illegal border-crossings, a decision was made to extend the security operation.
So far, during the VILKATIS operation, four illegal border-crossing transporters have been detained in Latvia, and more than 600 people have been prevented from crossing the border illegally. Additionally, two tunnels through which illegal border-crossings from the Belarusian side were organised were discovered and removed.
- State Border Guard | Valsts robežsardze (2 September, 2026), Operāciju "VILKATIS" Latvijas austrumu pierobežā turpinās līdz oktobrim [Operation "VILKATIS" in Latvia's eastern border area continues until October],