The decades-old design of the former cargo ships was retrofitted by the Soviet navy in the 1960's to transform into military landing craft.
This particular vessel was 3 nautical miles from Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters under Latvian jurisdiction.
LVA Armed Forces on 22 OCT in LVA EEZ 3 nmi from territ. waters spotted RU Navy's ship Bira.
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) October 22, 2014