Lithuania denies allowing drone attacks from its airspace amid Russian disinformation claims

Lithuania’s defence minister has dismissed Russian claims that the country permits drone attacks from its territory, calling them part of a deliberate disinformation campaign, LRT reports.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas stated that public declarations by Lithuanian officials—including the president and foreign minister—are intended to counter false Russian narratives. “Both the president, the foreign minister, and I have responsibly stated that this is misleading information, and Lithuania has not granted its airspace to any warring state nor intends to do so,” Kaunas told LRT Radio on Thursday.

His remarks follow a stern warning from President Gitanas Nausėda to “warring states in Europe” against using Lithuanian territory for drone overflights, which he called a “gross violation of sovereignty and international law.” The warning was communicated to NATO allies and the leadership of warring nations in Europe.

Kaunas emphasised that Lithuania has not received any requests from Ukraine to use its airspace for military operations. “Lithuania has not provided and will not provide its territory for any military actions by any state,” he said.

The statements come amid Russian accusations that Baltic states are allowing Ukrainian drones to transit their airspace for attacks on Russian energy and military infrastructure. Moscow has also claimed, without evidence, that such permissions pose a security threat to Russia’s Kaliningrad region, which borders Lithuania.

Lithuanian and NATO officials have repeatedly denied these allegations, asserting that any Ukrainian drones found in Baltic airspace were diverted there by Russian electronic warfare systems. Presidential adviser Asta Skaisgirytė also reiterated on Tuesday that Lithuania has never authorised third-party military operations from its territory.

Kaunas accused Russia of fabricating a disinformation campaign to “draw Baltic and Eastern NATO states into a confrontational regime,” despite Lithuania’s non-belligerent status. “Lithuania supports Ukraine financially and technologically but has never been and is not at war with Russia,” he said.