Lithuania considers state compensation for damage caused by military drone takedowns

The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has begun discussions on a draft law proposing state compensation for damage caused by the Lithuanian military or NATO allies when lawfully using force to neutralise threats, such as downing hostile drones, LRT reports.

The legislation addresses recent incidents where foreign military drones entering Lithuanian airspace were shot down, with debris causing damage to property on the ground. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas told parliament that eliminating threats—such as downing hostile drones—could result in material damage to civilian infrastructure from falling wreckage.

“When there is a need to eliminate a threat, meaning to shoot down a hostile drone in Lithuanian airspace, we may in some cases cause material damage on the ground. This means drone debris could fall and create additional losses for civilian infrastructure,” Kaunas said. “Therefore, it is proposed to regulate this action and compensate for losses that may arise from such an event.”

The Defence Ministry, which prepared the draft, aims to establish a clear compensation mechanism for cases where military force is used to neutralise threats to national security. Depending on the amount of compensation and the state’s financial capacity, payments could be spread over a decade.

The Seimas initially supported the proposal unanimously. After committee discussions, it will return to the plenary session on June 23. Social Democrat Rimantas Sinkevičius, chair of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee, welcomed the initiative but noted potential adjustments, such as extending compensation to cover damage caused by other state services, including the State Border Guard Service and the Public Security Service.

Conservative MP Arvydas Pocius emphasised that soldiers should not hesitate to destroy objects entering Lithuanian airspace, regardless of potential damage to civilian property. “They must simply follow orders,” he stated.

The draft also proposes expanding the use of military force against aerial objects, allowing it not only against pilotless aircraft but also other autonomously or remotely controlled objects.

Recent reports indicate that drone incidents in the Baltic states have become more frequent, with most cases involving Ukrainian drones—either straying off course or disrupted by Russian electronic warfare—entering Baltic airspace.