U.S. Apache helicopters arrive in Latvia

U.S. Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters arrive to the Lielvarde military airfield, Latvia February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

About 20 U.S. Apache military attack helicopters landed at Lielvarde military airfield in Latvia on Thursday, hours after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

The arrival of the choppers was first announced last week, when it was billed as a participation to the bi-annual international U.S.-led exercise Saber Strike.

U.S. Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters arrive to the Lielvarde military airfield, Latvia February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

But on Thursday the Lithuanian defence minister was describing them as part of U.S. military reinforcements to the Baltic region after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Some forty U.S. service members arrived in Latvia from Italy earlier on Thursday, the first group of what is expected to be a deployment of more than 300 troops, the Latvian Defense Ministry said.

(Reporting by Janis Laizans in Lielvarde; writing by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; editing by Niklas Pollard)

U.S.Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters arrive to the Lielvarde military airfield, Latvia February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

U.S. service members stand on the tarmac of Riga International Airport as they arrive in Latvia, February 24, 2022. Latvian Defence Ministry/Gatis Indrevics/Handout via REUTERS

A U.S. Air force C-130H aircraft carrying U.S. service members is seen upon arrival at Riga International Airport, in Latvia February 24, 2022. Latvian Defence Ministry/Gatis Indrevics/Handout via REUTERS