Lithuania probes why drone alerts did not reach all residents

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas called it “unacceptable” that warnings about a possible drone incursion were sent only to residents in northern Lithuania, LRT reports. The military has been asked to establish a detailed timeline, and officials will ask the Fire and Rescue Department why alerts may not have been sent on time.

Possible fragments of a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace were found in Juodžioniai village in Pasvalys district, where Lithuanian troops are working. Kaunas said the object was preliminarily assessed to have come from Polish territory. Police are investigating information that debris may have damaged a civilian car.

Radar operators detected a signal moving north from Poland, and the operation began at about 6 a.m. NATO air-policing fighters were scrambled from Šiauliai Air Base at 6:15 a.m. to identify the object, but poor weather prevented visual contact. The radar signal later disappeared, and the fighters returned to base.

Kaunas said he had contacted Poland’s defence minister and requested a joint investigation. He also said a fire broke out overnight on the premises of a company connected with Starlink infrastructure. The incident was contained and is under investigation.

A red air-raid warning was issued in Šiauliai and Panevėžys counties, while Kaunas received a yellow warning. The alert was lifted across Lithuania at about 8 a.m.