“Residents were informed in good time, and the operation went smoothly. The NATO air defence mission neutralised an object flying in our airspace, which had entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, thereby violating our airspace. This time, our concerted efforts yielded positive results,” Kaunas told LRT television on Tuesday morning.
The minister said the object that entered Lithuanian airspace was identified as a drone based on radar data and other technical indicators.
“Both the radar data and other indicators suggested that this was a drone, a flying object, and that it needed to be neutralised,” he stated.
According to Kaunas, the airspace violations recorded in recent days show that Russia’s war in Ukraine poses a threat to the security of the Baltic region as well.
“Russia’s war in Ukraine is intense. Although the war appears to be taking place thousands of kilometres away from Lithuania, its scale is nonetheless vast and far-reaching. Russia’s unwillingness to engage in peace talks is affecting the security of the Baltic region and the safety of its inhabitants,” he emphasised.
As reported, authorities declared a probable air threat on Tuesday night in Vilnius and Kaunas counties after spotting a drone. Authorities lifted the probable air threat once a NATO fighter jet destroyed the object.
Although initial reports suggested the drone may have been shot down in the Alytus district, near the village of Navasiolkai, the National Security and Defence Council (NKVC) later clarified that it had been shot down near the village of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys district.
As confirmed on Tuesday by the head of the NKVC, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, the drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarusian territory.
Shortly after midnight, residents in Vilnius, Trakai, Elektrėnai, and later in Kaunas County received text messages from the Lithuanian Armed Forces urging them to seek shelter or another safe place immediately, look after their loved ones, and await further instructions.
The footage focuses on the area around the village of Pratkūnai, which has become the centre of attention: large numbers of emergency services personnel are at work, and the fields are being combed through
It has been reported that, due to a potential air threat, several flights to Vilnius Airport were slightly delayed: from Antalya, Reykjavík and Warsaw.
President Gitanas Nausėda, who is on a working visit to Finland, also reacted to the violation of Lithuanian airspace. On social media platform ‘X’, he reported that NATO fighter jets had shot down a drone that had just entered Lithuanian airspace.
“I would like to thank our allies’ personnel for their swift response.
As Russia steps up its aggression against Ukraine, such preparedness is of vital importance to our region. Together with our NATO allies, Lithuania will defend its airspace,” the head of state noted.
ELTA reports that a potential air threat was also announced several days earlier, on 13 September. On that occasion, the air threat was declared in the Vilnius district, the city of Vilnius, the Trakai district and the Elektrėnai district.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces cited radar detections with characteristics typical of unmanned aerial vehicles as the reason for issuing the public alert; however, it was later reported that fighter jets carrying out a NATO air policing mission determined the detections were a flock of birds. The ‘Yellow’ alert status lasted for approximately 38 minutes.
Previously, on 13 June, Vilnius County declared an air alert.
Initially, the Lithuanian Armed Forces cited a radar target exhibiting characteristics typical of unmanned aerial vehicles as the reason for the public warning. Still, the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) later reported that the target was identified as a weather balloon.
Earlier, on 21 May, authorities declared an air threat in Utena County. On that day, two drones were reported to have entered the country’s airspace.
The day before, Vilnius County declared an air threat and a red alert level. This was the first such incident in the history of the restored state.
According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, a ‘Yellow’ alert means that an attack is likely but has not yet occurred; residents must seek shelter in case the alert level changes to ‘Red’.
‘Red’ means there is an immediate threat to life or safety; an emergency is underway, and it is essential to follow instructions immediately (take cover, evacuate, etc.) and monitor LRT for updates.
Meanwhile, ‘White’ means there is no danger; residents may leave their shelters and safe premises, but are encouraged to remain vigilant and continue to follow updates.
Similar incidents have recently been reported in other Baltic countries.