Today, 4 June 2026, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) is conducting its largest counterterrorism exercise to date with full force deployment in Ventspils – "Windau 2026".
This exercise is testing the readiness and mutual cooperation of the emergency services and other institutions involved in the counterterrorism system in a situation where armed terrorists have attacked a port and a passenger ferry.
It is the first time that VDD is organising the counterterrorism exercise in Ventspils, continuing the regional counterterrorism training cycle started in the previous years, with the goal to test the competent services’ readiness to react in case of a terrorist attack in different Latvian regions. This year’s exercise has the largest number of participants to date – close to 600 persons.
VDD draws the attention of residents and guests of Ventspils that in relation to the exercise on 4 June episodes of increased movement of emergency services and National Armed Forces vehicles, as well as low flyovers of helicopters will occur. VDD asks the public to remain understanding towards the exercises, as its main aim is to strengthen public safety. No significant traffic limitations are planned in Ventspils during the exercise.
The counterterrorism exercise "Windau 2026" plays out a staged scenario where armed terrorists attack a passenger terminal and ferry resulting in casualties and hostages. Institutions participating in the exercise test 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.
Representatives from more than 20 Latvian institutions and companies are participating alongside VDD officers 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 are 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 - are also participating in the exercise. In addition, international observers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Internal Security Agency of Poland (ABW) are participating in the exercise.
The victims and hostages are played by representatives from the Latvian Red Cross, State Border Guard, as well as Latvian National Guard and other NAF units.
VDD has organised counterterrorism exercises with full force deployment since 2007 and this is the 15th exercise of such scale.
To ensure the readiness of units of the emergency services of the North Kurzeme region to act in the event of a terrorist attack, on 26 May VDD organised an informative seminar in Ventspils for representatives of the units regarding the basic principles of response. Whereas on 27 May VDD organised the so-called table-top exercise, during which resources and actions to be taken in the event of a similar scenario were planned.
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.
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.
