Ukraine apologises after drone crashes in Lithuania

Ukraine has apologised after a drone entered Lithuanian airspace and crashed in Pasvalys district on Sunday morning, saying Russian electronic warfare may have diverted it. LRT reported that the drone damaged a moving car, but the person inside was unharmed.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said the incident may have been caused by Russian electronic warfare systems redirecting drones from legitimate military targets in Russia. Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Ukraine regretted the disruption, risk and concern caused, and was ready to share relevant information with Lithuania to establish what happened.

An air-raid alert was issued early Sunday in Panevėžys and Šiauliai counties, and residents received mobile phone warnings to go to shelters. Residents in Kaunas County were also warned.

It remains unclear why residents in other parts of Lithuania did not receive alerts, given that the drone crossed several districts after entering from the direction of Poland. Politicians said they would seek answers. National Crisis Management Centre head Vilmantas Vitkauskas said alerts were delayed while the military assessed whether the threat was real.