Lithuanian military reports suspected drone near border, NATO air policing mission activated

The Lithuanian military announced Wednesday morning that a suspected drone had been detected near the country’s border, triggering a NATO air policing mission, LRT.lt reports.

Residents in the districts of Ignalina, Utena, Švenčionys, and Zarasai received emergency alerts after radar systems identified an object with characteristics typical of unmanned aerial vehicles. A yellow-level air threat warning—the second-highest alert tier—was declared for the area, indicating an attack is considered likely but not yet underway.

“The reason for sending alerts to residents is a radar signature observed with features common to drones, detected near Lithuania’s border,” the military stated. Authorities urged the public to remain calm, seek shelter, and report any sightings of suspicious flying or crashed objects by calling 112, warning against approaching them.

According to the Lithuanian armed forces, the radar detection originated from Belarusian territory, prompting the activation of NATO’s air policing mission in response.