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Latvia Plans to Shut Down Roads and Railways on Eastern Border if Russian Military Threat Escalates
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Latvia is working on a comprehensive contingency plan that would make it possible to swiftly shut down road and rail connections along the country’s eastern border if the security situation deteriorates.
Defense Minister Andris Spruds said in an interview with LSM on January 28 that the issue is being addressed jointly by the Military Council and the Ministry of Transport, which have already compiled and submitted coordinated assessments.
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“If the military threat increases, we do not rule out dismantling road and railway infrastructure. Not a single military railcar belonging to the occupiers will pass through Latvian territory,” Spruds said.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs has also emphasized that Latvia is taking a broad approach to strengthening control over its eastern border, according LSM. He noted that the measures under consideration go beyond rail lines and include roads as well as mobility-restricting steps being developed by the Ministry of Defense.
“The main task is to implement the measures that have already been identified, and as for the railways, to prepare a model of action that would allow this issue to be resolved in a crisis. Once we have a clear plan and the necessary resources, we will continue consultations with the Baltic states,” the president added.
In November 2025, Latvia began assessing whether to dismantle railway lines linking the country to Russia along its eastern border, with the government tasked with preparing an initial evaluation by the end of the year in coordination with the National Armed Forces and Baltic partners.
Edgars Rinkēvičs noted that the assessment would take into account the position of the armed forces and stressed the importance of coordination with Lithuania and Estonia as the Baltic states explore possible joint approaches.
He described the security situation along Latvia’s eastern border as tense over the long term and said removing railway tracks is one of several options being examined to strengthen national defense and security.
“We cannot rule out any option for strengthening national defense and security,” he said, adding that any decision would need to outline the timeline and scale of the work while also considering potential socioeconomic consequences.
As part of a broader effort to reinforce its eastern frontier, Latvia has completed the construction of physical barriers along the border with Russia. By late December 2025, the country completed construction of physical barriers along the border with Russia, bringing the total length of fortified fencing to 280 kilometers.
Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis described the development as strategically important, noting that work is continuing beyond fencing alone. “
The process of equipping the border with high-tech surveillance systems is ongoing. Our ultimate goal is to establish the most modern border service along the EU’s eastern frontier,” he said.
Alongside the barriers, Latvian authorities are expanding supporting border infrastructure, including patrol roads. Construction of pontoon pathways is also planned to begin in spring 2026 in swampy areas near Lake Pitel, where conventional access is limited, as part of efforts to improve mobility and response capabilities along difficult terrain.
Earlier, it was reported that Latvia plans to bar pedestrian and bicycle crossings at its border checkpoints with Russia and Belarus as part of efforts to prevent a potential migrant influx.
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