Search continues for drone that entered Lithuanian airspace as efforts focus near Varėna village

A large-scale search operation is underway in Lithuania’s Varėna district near the village of Gudžiai after an unidentified drone entered the country’s airspace on Wednesday, triggering air raid alerts in five regions, LRT.lt reports.

Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC), confirmed that the drone’s fate remains unclear—whether it crashed within Lithuanian territory or exited the country’s airspace. As of 16:00 local time, Lithuanian military forces were conducting intensive searches in the area.

The initial alert originated from Latvia, where a yellow-level air threat—indicating a potential military object posing a risk to civilians and infrastructure—was declared near Daugavpils. Lithuanian radars later detected an object approaching the border near Ignalina district at approximately 09:40. Authorities issued public warnings starting in Ignalina before expanding alerts to Utena, Zarasai, Švenčionys, and Vilnius regions as the drone was tracked moving toward the capital.

“By around 10:00, Vilnius residents were instructed to seek shelter,” Vitkauskas said. The object vanished from radar at 11:09, leaving its status—whether downed or departed—unconfirmed. No explosions or debris have been reported.

Vitkauskas acknowledged minor confusion in schools and institutions over shelter procedures but stressed that no widespread panic occurred. He defended the decision not to activate air raid sirens, citing timing constraints and the risk of causing additional alarm once mobile alerts had already been sent. “Sirens lack a cancellation mechanism, and by the time they were ready for activation, data suggested the drone had moved on,” he explained.

The drone’s origin, type, and payload remain undetermined. “Based on its altitude and speed, it was most likely a drone, but whether it was combat-equipped or designed for electronic warfare, we cannot yet say,” Vitkauskas added. Authorities continue to analyze military data while urging the public to remain vigilant for any suspicious objects.

Wednesday’s incident marked the first activation of Lithuania’s national air threat warning system since its introduction in 2023, following similar alerts in Latvia and Estonia earlier this year.