„Initial reports suggest that this is a Ukrainian drone of the FP1 model – information had already been circulating in the public domain that (…) the Ukrainians have apologised for this incident, as St. Petersburg was under attack,“ the defence minister told LRT television on Sunday.
„Some of the drones strayed into our territory due to electronic warfare measures used by Russia – this particular drone is a consequence of the attack on St Petersburg,“ Mr Kaunas asserted.
According to him, further investigation will determine whether the drone exploded because it was carrying an explosive device or because it collided with another object.
On Sunday, it also emerged that an attempt had been made during the night to set fire to Starlink satellite communications equipment at a company in Vilnius; the minister urged people not to link these incidents.
He said it would be necessary to raise vigilance and provide greater protection for infrastructure of this kind.
The prime minister and the head of the Crisis Management Centre had previously linked this incident to Russian hybrid activities.
As reported by ELTA, on Sunday morning, shortly after 7 am, a red air alert was issued in the Panevėžys and Šiauliai counties after an object entered the country’s airspace; it was lifted about an hour later.
According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the drone is suspected to have entered Lithuanian airspace from Polish territory on Sunday, and its wreckage was found in the Pasvalys district.
The army reported that the drone’s wreckage was found in the village of Juodžionys; there were also reports of a possible explosion, though the authorities have not yet confirmed whether the drone was carrying an explosive device.
The drone’s wreckage also damaged a car travelling on the road, but the passengers were unharmed.