Lithuanian military chief addresses air threat concerns amid rising incidents

Lithuania’s chief of defence, Raimundas Vaikšnoras, has stated that authorities do not aim to unnecessarily alarm the public about potential air threats but follow strict protocols when responding to possible violations, even if the threat later proves unfounded, LRT reports.

“The algorithms are very clearly defined. Yes, no one wants to frighten our people without reason, especially during work hours—it doesn’t add stability, it only creates more anxiety. But we do what we’ve agreed to, whether we like it or not. We have clear algorithms that we follow,” Vaikšnoras told Žinių Radijas on Thursday.

Recent weeks have seen an increase in airspace violations across Lithuania and other Baltic states. Over the weekend, residents in the Vilnius region received an alert about a potential aerial threat, initially suspected to be a drone. NATO air policing jets later identified the object as a meteorological balloon used for smuggling.

Vaikšnoras acknowledged that skepticism often comes from those critical of the military or the state, with narratives that play into Russia’s hands by sowing panic and blame. “Imagine if, instead of a balloon, it had been a real flying object resembling a drone, possibly even carrying explosives,” he said. “The same critics would be the first to demand accountability from everyone for inaction.”

He added that Russia’s recent aggressive rhetoric against the Baltic states and Poland is deliberate, aimed at undermining public trust in state institutions. “This disinformation campaign is designed to erode confidence in government bodies, the military, and the state itself—a tactic Russia has employed since at least the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the occupation of Donbas,” Vaikšnoras said.

Last week, Lithuania’s Interior Ministry announced enhanced protection for strategic objects, expanding measures to bolster critical infrastructure resilience. The Public Security Service will ensure physical security, with the military providing support if needed.

Earlier, foreign ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries issued a joint statement linking drone incidents in NATO airspace to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, emphasizing that their territories have never been used to attack Russia.