Pareigūnai continue search for suspected drone debris in Varėna district

Officials resumed the search on Tuesday for debris from a suspected drone that crashed and exploded near Lake Lavyso in Varėna district, Lithuania.

According to the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC), all relevant agencies gathered at the site at 9:00 a.m. to continue the investigation. The area was secured overnight by police and military police units, and further inspections are expected to conclude on Tuesday.

The Police Department confirmed that the site remains under guard by both police and the military police. Ramūnas Matonis, a spokesperson for the department, told ELTA that the area was secured throughout the night and that operations would continue into the day.

Specialist teams, including officers from the ARO unit and experts from the Alytus County Police Commissariat, are conducting the search. The investigation has been classified as part of an ongoing pre-trial war crimes probe in Ukraine that began in 2022, as stated by Elena Martinonienė, a representative of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Initial reports suggest the object, possibly a drone from Belarus, crashed into Lake Lavyso early Monday morning. No danger to public safety was reported, though witnesses and video evidence indicate an explosion occurred. The debris included an internal combustion engine. Notably, military radar did not detect the object as it entered Lithuanian airspace.

The National Security Commission, led by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, is expected to discuss the incident on Tuesday.

Last year, Lithuania reported two incursions by Russian “Gerbera” drones, one of which carried explosives. Authorities determined the drones were intended for Ukraine but were accidentally diverted due to electronic warfare interference.