Ignalina moves children to shelters after drone warning near Lithuanian border

Schoolchildren in Lithuania’s Ignalina district were moved to bomb shelters on Wednesday morning after authorities issued warnings about a suspected drone detected near the border, LRT.lt reports.

The decision followed alerts from national services about radar signatures matching unmanned aircraft in the border regions of Ignalina, Utena, Zarasai, and Švenčionys. Lithuania’s military confirmed NATO air policing missions had been activated in response.

Ignalina Mayor Laimutis Ragaišis told LRT.lt that local authorities, having received the same public warnings as residents, ordered children in educational institutions to shelters as a precaution. “We’re preparing notifications for the municipality’s website and Facebook, advising residents to move to safer locations,” he said, adding that emergency signals could be heard in the background during the interview.

Neighbouring districts reported monitoring the situation without immediate evacuations. Utena Mayor Marijus Kaukėnas stated that no drone incursion had yet been confirmed, while Švenčionys Mayor Rimantas Klipčius noted a “yellow” alert level—indicating preparedness but no acute threat. Zarasai Mayor Nijolė Guobienė said residents and staff had been briefed on response protocols, with shelters ready if the alert escalates to “red.”

Lithuania’s military described the radar detection as exhibiting “characteristics typical of unmanned aerial vehicles” near the border, without specifying the drone’s origin or intent.