A drone of unknown origin flew for half an hour through Lithuanian airspace before NATO aircraft were deployed to intercept it. The incident occurred near the village of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys district, where a NATO Italian aircraft shot down the drone with a missile.
Officials in Vilnius have yet to determine whether the drone was Russian or Ukrainian. The unmanned vehicle remained in Lithuanian airspace for approximately 30 minutes, flying along the outskirts of populated areas before being intercepted.
Local Residents Describe the Incident
Residents reported to public broadcaster LRT.lt that they heard the drone and military planes both before and after the interception. One local, Vitalija, described hearing a loud noise and seeing a light overhead, saying, “It sounded like the beginning of a war.” Another resident, Virginija, expressed concern despite being accustomed to similar warnings, stating, “We really don’t want things to be frightening.”
Fear and Confusion Among Locals
Kazys, who lives about 2-3 kilometers from where the drone was shot down, recounted being awakened by an explosion that shook his home. He noted, “You can’t imagine. You can’t express it in words. It felt like the end of the world. I was terrified. Never in my life have I been so scared.” He also questioned the delayed response in issuing an air threat warning, asking, “What kind of system is this? It’s ridiculous.”
Another resident, Saša, heard the explosion late at night and felt uneasy as alerts about the air threat were issued. Alvydas, another local, commented on the unsettling nature of the event, particularly given the proximity of the strategic Kruonis pumped-storage hydroelectric plant.
Lithuania Calls for Strengthened Eastern Flank Security
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys informed allies about the drone’s incursion, emphasizing the need for discussions on strengthening eastern flank security within the EU and NATO. He stated, “The eastern flank must be strengthened, and its resilience must be increased through air defense measures and other actions that ensure the security of our critical infrastructure and potential operational targets.”
Gratitude Expressed to Italian Allies
Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius expressed gratitude to Italian allies for shooting down the drone. He remarked, “I want to thank the Italian air defense mission that successfully eliminated the drone invading Lithuanian airspace. I just returned from Ukraine, where I witnessed the ongoing military actions and constant air danger.”
NATO’s air defense aircraft have been patrolling the Baltic states’ airspace since the countries joined the alliance in 2004, having previously intercepted stray Ukrainian drones over Estonia and Latvia earlier this year.
