On the night of October 5-6, 2026, armed men wearing masks from Belarus attempted to illegally bring 20 migrants into Latvia near the Latvia-Belarus border in Krāslavas novads, Kaplavas pagasts. After several hours of confrontation with Latvian soldiers who blocked their passage, some masked men eventually crossed into Latvia near Matulišķi village, damaged infrastructure including security cameras, and left undetected. A previously little-known Belarusian group 'Melnie rusi' (Black Rus) claimed responsibility for the border incident and sabotage and announced intentions to continue covert operations. Analysts from Latvia and Polish-based Belarusian political refugee Dmitrijs Halko interpret the group as a cover structure created by Belarusian and Russian special services for hybrid warfare operations, serving as a proxy to obfuscate direct involvement of state authorities. Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis praised the professionalism of the Latvian soldiers and confirmed the operation 'Vilkatis' against illegal migration is producing results. The Latvian Security Police (VDD) began a criminal investigation on October 9, 2026, into the creation of a criminal organization aimed at serious crimes against peace and against Latvia and Ukraine. The incident occurs amid Belarusian military exercises and heightens tensions on the eastern border of NATO and the EU. The group's video statement was released on a Telegram channel, featuring a masked speaker Nemans declaring future sabotage actions and warning the EU and NATO are fragile. The case is seen as a demonstration of organized crime used as a hybrid warfare tool by state actors to destabilize Latvia and neighboring countries.

On the night of October 5-6, 2026, armed men wearing masks from Belarus attempted to illegally bring 20 migrants into Latvia near the Latvia-Belarus border in Krāslavas novads, Kaplavas pagasts. After several hours of confrontation with Latvian soldiers who blocked their passage, some masked men eventually crossed into Latvia near Matulišķi village, damaged infrastructure including security cameras, and left undetected. A previously little-known Belarusian group 'Melnie rusi' (Black Rus) claimed responsibility for the border incident and sabotage and announced intentions to continue covert operations. Analysts from Latvia and Polish-based Belarusian political refugee Dmitrijs Halko interpret the group as a cover structure created by Belarusian and Russian special services for hybrid warfare operations, serving as a proxy to obfuscate direct involvement of state authorities. Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis praised the professionalism of the Latvian soldiers and confirmed the operation 'Vilkatis' against illegal migration is producing results. The Latvian Security Police (VDD) began a criminal investigation on October 9, 2026, into the creation of a criminal organization aimed at serious crimes against peace and against Latvia and Ukraine. The incident occurs amid Belarusian military exercises and heightens tensions on the eastern border of NATO and the EU. The group's video statement was released on a Telegram channel, featuring a masked speaker Nemans declaring future sabotage actions and warning the EU and NATO are fragile. The case is seen as a demonstration of organized crime used as a hybrid warfare tool by state actors to destabilize Latvia and neighboring countries.