Lithuanian military continues drone search in Utena and Panevėžys regions

The Lithuanian military is continuing its search for suspected drones in the Utena and Panevėžys districts after radar systems detected unidentified objects, state news agency ELTA reported on Friday.

Search operations, involving the Military Police, Land Forces, and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, resumed on Saturday. Authorities are conducting local interviews, deploying unmanned aerial vehicles, and using light aircraft for reconnaissance, according to the Strategic Communications Department of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

On Thursday, an air threat alert was declared in Utena district after radar detected an object with drone-like characteristics. The National Crisis Management Centre later reported a second potential drone, both of which disappeared near Utena. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed that two drone-like signatures had been recorded but vanished from radar.

Military officials stated that the suspected drone signals were picked up by Lithuanian radar systems operated by the Air Force. NATO air policing fighters were scrambled in response. The initial red-level threat in Utena was downgraded to yellow and later to white, indicating no further danger.

This follows a similar incident on Wednesday, when a drone-like object entered Lithuanian airspace near the Belarus border around 9:40 AM before disappearing near Merkine at 11:09 AM. Search efforts in the Varėna district, the presumed crash site, were later called off after no debris was found.