The opening of the live-fire training range at the Selonia Military Training Area will take place

On 20 February, the opening of the live-fire training area at the Selonia Military Training Area will take place. The training area provides new training infrastructure, including shooting ranges for various classes of weapons and weapons systems, thereby strengthening the training capabilities of the National Armed Forces and Allied units in Latvia.

The event will be attended by President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds, the leadership of the National Armed Forces, and other invited guests. 

The development of the Selonia Military Training Area is one of the most significant defence infrastructure projects in Latvia, providing a training environment for Latvian and Allied armed forces units. The development of the training area is being implemented in phases. The first phase, carried out from 2022 to 2025, provides initial operational capability. Within this phase, a logistics support area for units up to squad size, an ammunition storage site, a 300-metre shooting range, an infantry platoon tactical shooting range, machine gun and sniper ranges, as well as an unexploded ordnance zone have been constructed. Commissioning of the facilities built during the first phase will take place at the beginning of 2026.

During the first phase, 11 state-owned properties with a total area of 15,430 hectares were taken over, and 14 privately owned properties covering 160 hectares were expropriated. The total developed area amounts to 15,590 hectares, which constitutes approximately 61% of the planned training area territory. At the same time, the marking of the external boundary of the properties acquired during the first phase has been completed. The total cost of the first phase amounts to approximately EUR 36.5 million.

The second phase of development is planned for the period from 2026 to 2029 and aims to provide full operational capability by developing collective training infrastructure, with the main priority being to ensure manoeuvre capabilities for brigade-level exercises. On 26 September 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers supported the partial development of the second phase under a public-private partnership model, and on 9 October the Ministry of Defence concluded an agreement with the state-owned company “Valsts nekustamie īpašumi” to ensure the implementation of the project.

Tactical and engineering training, armoured vehicle manoeuvres, aircraft overflights, and unmanned aerial vehicle training are already taking place in the territory of the military training area. The training activities involve soldiers of the National Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard and the State Defence Service, as well as units from Allied countries. Several international military exercises are planned at the training area in 2026.

The decision adopted at the NATO Summit in Madrid in 2022 to increase the presence of Allied forces in the Baltic States reinforced the need to develop additional training infrastructure in Latvia. The decision to construct the Selonia training area is a strategic decision taken by Latvia to strengthen national defence capabilities.

The establishment of the Selonia Military Training Area is governed by the Law on the Establishment of the Selonia Military Training Area, which entered into force on 29 June 2023, as well as Cabinet Regulation No. 416 of 13 July 2023 on the boundary of the military training area and the immovable properties included within its territory.

For Media Representatives

Media representatives are invited to attend and cover the opening event of the live-fire training area on 20 February 2026, which will include demonstration activities of military training exercises. The event is scheduled to begin at 12:00 and will last approximately two hours.

Please confirm your participation by 18 February at 15:00 by emailing prese@mil.lv and indicating your media outlet, first name, surname, personal identity number, phone number, and whether you will use the organised transportation from Riga or Aizkraukle.

Please note that the number of participants will be limited, as the event will be observed from a watchtower platform. Participants are also advised to wear warm clothing suitable for the weather conditions and location.

Please note that access to the Selonia Military Training Area by private transport will not be permitted.

Transportation to the event will be organised as follows:

• 08:30 – Bus from Riga, Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street 10/12 (from Elizabetes Street near the Ministry of Defence).

• 10:30 – Bus from Aizkraukle Culture Centre (Spīdolas Street 2, Aizkraukle).

Media representatives must carry a valid identity document (passport or ID card).

Personal data submitted in applications will be stored only until the end of the event on 20 February.

Prepared by:
Communications Department,
Information Analysis and Management Directorate,
Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces
E-pasts: prese@mil.lv