Poland denies report drone that crashed in Lithuania launched there

Poland’s Ministry of National Defence has denied a report that the drone which crashed in Lithuania on Sunday was launched from Lithuanian territory, LRT reported.

The claim appeared in Polish broadcaster Polsat News, citing an anonymous source in the Polish military. The report said the drone had taken off in Lithuania about 30 kilometres from the Polish border and flown further into the country without entering Polish airspace.

Poland’s defence ministry called the claim unfounded and urged the media not to spread speculation. It said the drone that crossed into Lithuanian airspace on Sunday morning was Ukrainian and that Ukraine had officially apologised to Lithuania for the incident.

The ministry said radar data from the relevant part of Poland and neighbouring countries was being analysed in cooperation with Lithuania. It is awaiting the results of the commissioned analyses.

Lithuanian officials also rejected the report. Presidential national security adviser Deividas Matulionis said Lithuania had substantiated information that the drone crossed the Polish-Lithuanian border. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas called the report “a kind of misunderstanding”, adding that Lithuania had not and would not allow another country to use its territory or airspace to attack a third country.

Lithuanian officials say the drone entered the country from Poland early on Sunday. Its parts were later found in Juodžioniai village, in Pasvalys district municipality, and the explosion damaged a car.