Armed group claims responsibility for border sabotage and migrant smuggling at Latvia-Belarus frontier

At the start of October, a confrontation unfolded on the Latvia-Belarus border when armed, masked persons tried to bring illegal migrants from Belarus into Latvia, threatening Latvian soldiers and urging the migrants forward. Latvian authorities blocked the crossing and later reported a second intrusion by a disguised group that damaged an electricity distribution cabinet and stole surveillance equipment before withdrawing back to Belarus.

The Belarusian group Tšornyje rusy, calling itself “Mustat rusit”, announced on a YouTube video that it was behind both incidents, describing the events as a test of Latvian endurance that they failed. The spokesperson said three members took part and hinted at more border provocations, also detailing a claimed target location in the village of Matuliškin. Analysts suggest the group may be a hybrid front for Belarusian and Russian special services, while Latvian security services have opened a criminal investigation into threats and sabotage along the border, which has seen escalating incidents since 2021.