On 4 June 2026, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) conducted the national level counterterrorism exercise with full force deployment "Windau 2026" in Ventspils. Emergency services and other institutions tested their readiness to conduct counterterrorism operation in a situation where armed terrorists have attacked a port and a passenger ferry and have taken hostages.
It is the first time that VDD has organised the counterterrorism exercise in Ventspils, continuing the regional counterterrorism training cycle started in the previous years, with the goal to review the competent services’ readiness to react in case of a terrorist attack in different Latvian regions.
"The counterterrorism exercise has come to an end with the participating institutions successfully conducting the counterterrorism operation and eliminating the threat posed by terrorists. Following the exercise, VDD will draw conclusions that will be used to further improve the response and mutual cooperation procedures between the responsible services in the event of a terrorist attack or other emergency situations", comments VDD Director General Normunds Mežviets.
"Sabotage acts organised by Russian intelligence and security services, which essentially resemble terrorist attacks, have become today’s reality in Latvia and other European countries", expresses N. Mežviets. "Similar to terrorist attacks, Russian-organised malign activities aim to intimidate and use force to achieve specific goals. In the case of Russia – to promote decisions favourable to it or to delay the adoption of unfavourable decisions, especially in relation to support of Ukraine and various sanctions against Russia."
Counterterrorism exercise "Windau 2026" played out a staged scenario where armed terrorists attacked a passenger terminal and ferry resulting in casualties and hostages. Institutions participating in the exercise tested their readiness in a realistic scenario to act according to the counterterrorism plan "Ship"1 approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, which determines the measures that need to be taken in the event of a threat to ships, ports or port facilities.
VDD has organised counterterrorism exercises with full force deployment since 2007 and this was the 15th such exercise. Similar to the year before, around 500 participants from different institutions tested and developed their readiness during the exercise.
Representatives from more than 20 Latvian institutions and companies participated alongside VDD in the counterterrorism exercise "Windau 2026": State Police, State Emergency Medical Service, State Fire and Rescue Service, National Armed Forces (NAF), State Border Guard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prosecutor General’s Office, Ventspils City Municipality, Civil Defence Commission of Ventspils City and Ventspils Municipality Cooperation Territory, Ventspils Municipal Police, Ventspils Freeport Authority, Maritime Administration of Latvia, North Kurzeme Regional Hospital, Crisis and Counselling Centre "Skalbes", ferry company "Stena Line" and several other companies located at the Ventspils port.
Several special operations units were also taking part in the exercise: State Police Counterterrorism Unit "Omega" and Special Tasks Battalion, NAF Special Tasks Unit of the Special Operations Command, as well as State Border Guard Special Operations Service "Sigma".
To strengthen international cooperation in the implementation of counterterrorism operations, the Tactical Unit of Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) and representatives from the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia – soldiers from the Royal Canadian Air Force with CH-146 "Griffon" helicopters - also participated in the exercise. In addition, international observers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Internal Security Agency (ABW) of Poland also participated in the exercise.
The victims and hostages were played by representatives from the Latvian Red Cross, State Border Guard, as well as Latvian National Guard and other NAF units.
Within the training cycle of the regional counterterrorism exercises, VDD organised counterterrorism exercises with full force deployment in Daugavpils, Latgale region last year ("Dinaburg 2025"), Valmiera, Vidzeme region ("Wolmar 2024") in 2024, Jelgava, Zemgale region ("Mītava 2023") in 2023, and Liepāja, Kurzeme region ("Liedags 2022") in 2022.
VDD is Latvia’s leading institution in coordinating the activities in the counterterrorism field of state and municipal institutions as well as other institutions involved in the counterterrorism prevention or response measures.
Terrorism threat level in Latvia is currently low and the information at VDD’s disposal does not indicate any changes in the near future.
Photos from the exercise are available here
Information prepared by VDD
Illustrative photo, VDD
1 Full name of the plan – Response plan in the event of a threat to ships, ports and port facilities (counterterrorism plan "Ship"); approved at the Cabinet of Ministers sitting on 7 September 2021.
