Lithuania issues air threat alerts: what yellow, red, and white signals mean

Lithuania briefly activated air threat alerts on Wednesday after an unidentified drone was detected in the eastern part of the country, with Vilniaus County ordering residents to seek shelter while other regions received a “yellow” warning, LRT reports. The threat was later lifted nationwide.

Reserve officer Vygintas Ušinskas explained the meaning of the three-color alert system and advised the public on how to respond during air threats.

“White means safety, yellow—like a traffic light—is a warning, and red signals danger,” Ušinskas said. The system activates when an unidentified flying object is detected. Initially, a yellow alert indicates a potential threat, while red directs people to shelter. White confirms the threat has passed.

“First, there was a yellow alert, meaning something was detected but unidentified. Once confirmed as a dangerous object, it switched to red. We knew it was a drone, but couldn’t determine if it was combat or reconnaissance—just that it was flying. Threats could also include missiles, not just drones,” he added.

How to respond during an air threat

For those at home without immediate shelter access, Ušinskas recommended following the “two-wall principle”—seeking a room with two layers of walls, such as a bathroom. “In Ukraine, many sleep in bathtubs with their children. There’s no alternative if you lack a proper shelter,” he noted.

He advised against stopping a vehicle during a drone threat: “Personally, I wouldn’t stop while driving. Maybe under a bridge, but that’s risky—debris could fall. We don’t know the target; it must be identified first.”

When heading to shelter, Ušinskas urged bringing essentials: a phone, charger, water, and snacks. “From my experience, the longest shelter stay was around six hours,” he said.

Staying informed and avoiding panic

Ušinskas emphasized relying on official channels for updates, citing Ukraine’s use of Telegram channels where airspace monitors share real-time drone movement data. “You can decide when to shelter, but safety rules must be followed—staying in shelter is safest until the threat is lifted,” he said.

Addressing public criticism over unactivated sirens, he argued that information dissemination worked effectively: “People complain about lack of sirens, but responsibility lies with each individual to act on the information they receive.”

On broader concerns about war preparedness, Ušinskas called for calm: “Understand the situation, but don’t panic.”