In early October 2026, incidents took place on the Latvia-Belarus border involving masked, armed individuals who first attempted to forcibly push illegal migrants from Belarus into Latvia and later infiltrated Latvian territory, vandalizing electrical infrastructure and stealing cameras. A video claiming responsibility by a Belarusian group 'Black Russians' appeared on Telegram, but experts, including NATO Strategic Communications Center director Jānis Sārts, consider this group fictitious and the incidents part of an information operation by aggressor state security services aimed at creating threat perception and emotional provocation. The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) launched a criminal case on 9 October 2026 for the formation of a criminal organization intending serious crimes against peace, Latvia, and Ukraine. The National Armed Forces reported the migrant escort group was armed and aggressive. The government extended reinforced border security in affected regions due to increased illegal migration from Belarus. The events are interpreted as hybrid hostile activities combining physical provocations with information warfare.

In early October 2026, incidents took place on the Latvia-Belarus border involving masked, armed individuals who first attempted to forcibly push illegal migrants from Belarus into Latvia and later infiltrated Latvian territory, vandalizing electrical infrastructure and stealing cameras. A video claiming responsibility by a Belarusian group 'Black Russians' appeared on Telegram, but experts, including NATO Strategic Communications Center director Jānis Sārts, consider this group fictitious and the incidents part of an information operation by aggressor state security services aimed at creating threat perception and emotional provocation. The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) launched a criminal case on 9 October 2026 for the formation of a criminal organization intending serious crimes against peace, Latvia, and Ukraine. The National Armed Forces reported the migrant escort group was armed and aggressive. The government extended reinforced border security in affected regions due to increased illegal migration from Belarus. The events are interpreted as hybrid hostile activities combining physical provocations with information warfare.