Lithuania tests air defence readiness after drone incursion triggers first-ever red alert

Lithuania activated its highest-level air threat alert for the first time since restoring independence this week after an unidentified drone entered its airspace, exposing critical gaps in emergency preparedness, LRT television programme Savaitė reported Saturday.

The red-level alert—declared in Vilnius County on Wednesday—forced residents into shelters for two hours, while neighbouring regions faced a lower-tier yellow warning. Authorities later confirmed the incident was a “lesson” revealing systemic failures: locked bomb shelters, poor public communication, and insufficient tracking of low-altitude threats.

Defence officials admitted the drone, believed to have originated from Russia, evaded radar detection by flying below 300 metres. A multinational pursuit involving Portuguese F-16s from Estonia and Lithuanian helicopters failed to intercept it. The drone’s erratic path—crossing into Latvia, Belarus, and back—last registered near Merkine before vanishing. Ground searches yielded no wreckage.

“There is no object. There’s nothing to discuss,” said Chief of Defence Gen. Raimundas Vaikšnoras, underscoring the limitations of Lithuania’s air defences, which rely on NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission and systems designed for higher-altitude threats.

The drill highlighted civilian vulnerabilities: many shelters were locked or inaccessible, while schools and kindergartens lacked clear protocols. Some children remained in classrooms or were evacuated to open areas like stadiums. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė criticised the “very poor” response in educational institutions, where exams took priority over safety drills.

Fire Safety Department Director Renatas Požėla announced municipalities would be ordered to ensure 24/7 access to shelters during escalations. Presidential advisor Deividas Matulionis noted the failure of early-warning systems, a concern echoed by President Gitanas Nausėda after a Ukrainian drone crash in Utena District earlier this month went undetected by radar.

Broadcasters also faced scrutiny. State media LRT drew mixed reactions for airing Frank Sinatra’s “The End is Near”* during the alert, while its main TV channel continued regular programming. LRT management pledged improvements, including cross-platform emergency signal integration.