The recent hostile actions in eastern Latvia by guerrillas sympathizing with the Russian government have overstretched the Latvian Land Armed Forces. The need of increasing patrolling and shows of force have become evident after several skirmishes between ethnic Russian guerrillas and Latvian National Guard detachments. These skirmishes had consistently resulted in Latvian National Guards casualties. The very nature of the Latvian National Guard -light infantry with no significant heavy weapons support- hampers their ability to deliver effective fires on an elusive and fast moving enemy.
A SOF three men team along a RG33 mine-resistant armored vehicle. |