In Riga, red carnations were placed at the base of a Russian tank that had been destroyed amid unrest, a scene captured by local observers and acknowledged by officials. The gathering prompted a formal inquiry as investigators began collecting testimonies and reviewing footage from the area. The moment drew attention as police launched a departmental probe, while fragments of the arrangement were swiftly removed from the fence surrounding the exhibit in a routine security and preservation effort .
Earlier that day, a charity concert took place near Riga Congress Hall. Simultaneously, Kronvalda Park hosted the opening of an exhibit displaying Russian military equipment that Ukrainian forces had rendered unusable amid ongoing hostilities. The juxtaposition of remembrance and current conflict sparked discussions among attendees and across social media, where photos showed a person laying carnations on the railing of one of the displayed items over the weekend .
Observers noted that carnations are often linked to Soviet-era holidays, a detail that fed into broader conversations about symbolism, memory, and political sentiment within the city. The act of placing flowers on the exhibit was recorded, and staff removed the flowers in the hours that followed as part of standard procedural handling of demonstrations and displays .
On the same day, events in Daugavpils included a parade organized by the Association for the Support of Ukraine and the Latvia Ukraine Congress, underscoring ongoing public demonstrations of support for Ukraine. In the region, past expressions of Ukrainian solidarity have sometimes sparked debates among residents, reflecting evolving attitudes toward national and international ties during a period marked by heightened tension and policy responses .
In a broader context, Latvian authorities have been preparing precautionary measures to address possible population movements related to Russia, including concerns about another mobilization wave. Agencies have stressed readiness and the commitment to maintain public safety while facilitating orderly, lawful processes for those seeking to travel or relocate in response to regional developments .