Red alerts issued in Druskininkai and Lazdijai as Alytus warning declared

A probable air threat was declared in Alytus County after a yellow-level warning in Vilnius and Utena counties was lifted shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Red-level air attack warnings were issued in Druskininkai and Lazdijai districts, LRT reported, citing the National Crisis Management Centre.

Centre head Vilmantas Vitkauskas said NATO air policing fighter jets were scrambled after an unidentified object was detected coming from Belarus towards Vilnius and Utena counties. He said all indications suggested it was a drone.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces urged people under a red alert to go immediately to a shelter or other safe place, look after their relatives and await further instructions. Anyone who sees a suspicious object should not approach it and should call 112.

Shelters are intended to provide protection for a few hours during an air threat. They include rooms in residential and public buildings, underground car parks, garages, basements and tunnels. Shelters are marked with a yellow sign reading “Shelter.” A basement, windowless interior room or corridor can also serve as a safe place; people are advised to avoid windows, balconies, lifts, open spaces and rooms on the top floor.

LRT said it has published a nationwide list of shelters. The last red-level air alert was issued on October 18 in Panevėžys and Šiauliai counties after an object entered Lithuanian airspace. It was lifted about an hour later.