Latvia to send 42 Patria armored personnel carriers to Ukraine
Local elections lead to changes in more than half of Latvian municipalities
On July 1, the Latvian government supported the transfer of 42 Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers and other military equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to support Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression.
"In the near future, we will deliver the first of a total of 42 Patria armored vehicles manufactured in Latvia to Ukraine. I am convinced that our Patria armored vehicles will help the Ukrainian armed forces in the fight against the aggressor. We continue and will continue to support Ukraine in the future - both this year and next year, we will provide Ukraine with military support in the amount of 0.25% of the gross domestic product," Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds stated.
A Latvian built Patria 6x6 in Ukrainian service, as imagined by AI
In February, the Ministry of Defense said it had ordered Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers to be delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The ministry emphasized that the supply of these armored vehicles to Ukraine will not affect the needs and operational capabilities of the National Armed Forces. The Latvian government has already placed an order for more than 200 Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers. In addition to this purchase of armored personnel carriers, Latvia has ordered an additional 56 Patria vehicle configured for command-and-control purposes.
Interior Ministry reports on the state of civil defense preparedness
On July 1, the government was given a report by the Ministry of the Interior on the implementation of the State Civil Defense Plan (VCAP) in 2024.
It listed the most important works in the field of civil defense:
4,710 state and municipal facilities have been surveyed and assessed, of which more than 1,600 facilities have been recognized as suitable for bomb shelters.
Municipalities can receive funding from EU funds for the development of shelters as early as 2025. Currently, ~ EUR 22.2 million s in funding from EU funds has already been approved and a list of 570 facilities that will receive this funding has been approved. This means municipalities can already secure funding and begin adapting and equipping shelters.
The 112 Latvia app has been developed and released for public use, allowing users to receive alerts and information that is essential in case of a potential threat. The 112 app also provides information about the nearest shelters to the user’s location.
Cellular broadcast alert system starts up
Cellular broadcasting of threat alerts has been introduced, which allows residents to be promptly notified of potential threats in a specific area – regardless of whether they have the 112 app. Cell broadcasting allows recipients to be reached faster than with text messages. In addition, messages can be targeted – sent directly to those in the affected area. Alerts will be sent by mobile phone towers to mobile phones in the specific region, regardless of the operator. They will also be received by older devices and those without a SIM card.
In addition to conflict or disaster alerts, the cell broadcasting system can send information about lost children and wanted or dangerous persons.
New and modern disaster management centers (DMCs) have been put into service in Priekule, Iecava, Dagda, Ilūkste, Aizpute, Kandava, Madona and Daugavpils. Construction continues in several other municipalities. New DMCs will soon be completed and put into operation in several other municipalities. The DMCs are basically fire and rescue stations with ambulance services and often police as well.
More than 90 new specialized fire trucks and vehicles have been purchased, improving the technical capabilities of the Fire Department to respond to disasters. The Fire Department's fleet has now been completely renovated.
The unified system for cooperation between operational services has been fully implemented, improving the flow of information between the State Emergency Service, and the State Police.
In 2024, significant investments were made in the renewal and replenishment of the State Material Reserves (SMR), allocating more than EUR 17 million until 2029.
Training has been provided to 15 local government civil defense commissions. Information on emergency preparedness has been provided to the public, including siren tests, the 112 Latvia app, and through information booklets. National civil protection exercises will also continue this year, such as RADEX 2025, which will include response scenarios for chemical, radiological, biological, and explosive situations.
Price rises accelerate in Estonia
Prices in Estonia rose by 1.1 percent in June compared to May and by 5.2 percent year-on-year compared to June 2024, according to the preliminary flash estimate of the harmonized consumer prices index from Statistics Estonia, the national public service broadcaster reported on its website Err.ee.
"In addition to rising food prices, the preliminary estimate indicates that the increase in prices for holiday travel and accommodation also played a role, though these are likely temporary in nature. Offsetting effects came from lower housing costs as well as clothing and footwear prices," said Lauri Veski, head of the consumer prices team at Statistics Estonia.
"This is the fastest price increase we've seen so far this year. As a reminder, prices rose by 5 percent year-on-year in February," commented Bigbank economist Raul Eamets on the index growth. "Current price statistics suggest that the average annual inflation rate is very likely to reach 6 percent or even slightly higher."
Ride hailing and food delivery company Bolt posts higher losses
The turnover of the Estonian-based ride-hailing, food delivery and courier service company Bolt grew by 17 percent in 2024 to EUR 2 billion, but its net loss deepened to more than EUR102 million, Err.ee reported.
Compared to 2023, Bolt's net loss increased by 11.6 percent to EUR 102.6 million. This marks the second-largest loss in the company's history.
In its coverage of Bolt's results, daily Postimees noted that less than two years ago, the company had promised to turn a profit within the following 12 months and go public in 2025. However, the financial results for 2024, published on June 30, show that the company remains far from profitability and there is no mention of a stock market debut or IPO in the report.
The report does state, however, that "continued access to funding is necessary for the further development of current operations." When asked by the newspaper whether this referred to an IPO, bond issuance or another form of financing, Bolt did not respond.
"At present, we are focusing on preparatory steps that will ensure we are ready for a stock market listing when market conditions are favorable. Our decision on where and when to go public will depend on the state of the market," the company said through its communications director.
Local elections lead to changes in more than half of Latvian municipalities
Following the local government elections on June 7, the leadership of local governments have changed in more than half of Latvian municipalities - new mayors have been elected in 22 municipalities, while incumbent mayors have been re-elected in another 20 municipalities, according to data compiled by the news agency LETA.
In 12 Latvian municipalities, political parties that gained the largest number of votes the elections, but no majority have been unable to form a coalition. In some municipalities the winning parties have been left in opposition: in Riga, Jelgava, Ventspils Region and several other local government units.
Most notably in Riga, the “winner”, the populist Latvia First (LPV) party led by Ainārs Šlesers was excluded from power. The LPV leader filed a court case against the results of the election (where electronic vote counting fell apart and results were counted by hand) and lost. He has held two rallies by the Freedom Monument to demand the election results be annulled and that the coalition government of Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity/JV) resign. Both rallies were attended by at most several hundred persons who listened to Šlesers’ speeches interspersed with some phrases in Russian, drawing applause from the audience.
22 local governments have elected new mayors or equivalent posts after the elections. Viesturs Kleinbergs (Progressives/Pro) was elected Riga mayor, while in Ventspils Region, mayor and deputy mayor of the region changed places, and now Andis Zariņš (National Alliance/NA) leads the Ventspils Region Council, while the previous leader Aivars Mucenieks (Greens/Farmers/ZZS) is his deputy.
The long-serving Jelgava Mayor Andris Rāviņš (ZZS) has been replaced by the Martins Dagis from Pro.
24-year-old Dāvids Rubens (New Christian Party) has been elected mayor of Līvani Region Council, becoming the youngest municipal leader in Latvia.
Several municipalities have re-elected their former chairpersons including controversial Gatis Truksnis (Green Party) in Jūrmala, Meanwhile, leaders of 20 Latvian municipalities remain unchanged after the elections, LETA reported.