Lithuanian authorities complete investigation of suspected drone crash site in Varėna district

Lithuanian police have completed their on-site investigation of a suspected drone crash near Lake Lavyso in Varėna district, state news agency ELTA reported Monday.

Ramūnas Matonis, a representative of the Police Department, confirmed that debris collection concluded at 16:45 local time on Tuesday, with emergency response plan “Skydas” officially deactivated. “The area has been released,” the police statement read. Authorities had earlier cordoned off the site following reports of a possible drone explosion.

Search teams recovered fragments from both the lake’s ice and its depths, using specialised equipment including underwater cameras and boats. The State Fire and Rescue Service deployed 13 personnel, supported by anti-terrorism unit “Aras” and military police. Firefighters assisted in locating and retrieving debris under police supervision.

Jolita Orentaitė, head of the Fire and Rescue Department’s Communications Division, told ELTA that divers from Vilnius were called in with additional gear, including cameras lowered to the lakebed. The operation involved two rescue boats and other technical equipment.

Local officials noted minimal disruption to residents. Varėna’s deputy mayor Alvydas Verbickas stated that only four people live permanently near the lake, with no requests for assistance reported. The remote area, surrounded by Dainava Forest, is primarily used for seasonal recreation.

The incident began late Monday when an unidentified drone, believed to be of Ukrainian origin, entered Lithuanian airspace before crashing near Lake Lavyso. Authorities reported no explosives were found at the site, though investigations into the drone’s type and origin remain ongoing. Radar systems had not detected the drone’s entry; emergency services were alerted by local reports of a nighttime explosion and metallic debris on the ice.