Armenpress. Operation “Vilkatis” (Werewolf), aimed at tackling illegal migration, was launched in Latvia on 11 August, Latvia’s public broadcaster LSM reported citing an announcement by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs.
The operation is scheduled to run until the end of August.
Operation “Vilkatis” is an information exchange mechanism between various institutions, coordinated by the Crisis Management Centre of the State Chancellery, whilst its implementation primarily involves the State Border Guard, the State Police and the National Armed Forces (NBS).
Colonel Arvis Zīle, head of the Crisis Management Centre, said that the pressure of illegal migration is viewed as a hybrid threat to the country. Therefore, it is necessary to involve several sectors to mitigate this threat. Defense Minister Raivis Melnis said that simply deploying soldiers to the border would not ensure protection – the problem must be addressed using the latest technology.
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The Ministry of Defense will ensure the continued involvement of the National Armed Forces in supporting the State Border Guard by increasing staffing levels and logistical support, including the use of new technologies such as drones, helicopters and planes.
The State Border Guard, the State Police, the Military Intelligence and Security Service, the State Security Service and the National Armed Forces will ensure the exchange of operational information on attempts to cross the border illegally and on the persons involved in such attempts, including on the possible involvement of individuals in the organization of illegal migration.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will ensure cooperation and coordination with Lithuania, Estonia and Poland with regard to curbing illegal border crossings and secondary migration flows.
“It is now the fifth year since hostilities began and Russia has been using Latvia’s border as an element of hybrid warfare, attacking our infrastructure via Belarus,” said the Prime Minister, noting that this is also a matter of the security of Europe’s external borders.
Latvia said earlier on Tuesday that a tunnel had been discovered under the border with Belarus and announced plans to combat networks that it says are helping a growing number of migrants cross the frontier illegally, Reuters reported.