Red air alerts issued in Kaunas and several other areas

Red-level air-attack alerts were issued in Kaunas, Prienai, Druskininkai, Lazdijai and Kėdainiai, as well as Marijampolė, LRT reported, citing the National Crisis Management Centre.

After midnight, a yellow-level air alert was cancelled in Vilnius and Utena counties. A likely air alert was then declared in Alytus. Red alerts were first announced for Druskininkai, Lazdijai district and Marijampolė county, and shortly after 1 a.m. were extended to Kaunas city and district, Prienai district and Kėdainiai district.

Residents who hear the civil protection warning “Air alert” are advised to get as quickly as possible to the nearest marked shelter or another safe place, such as a basement, tunnel or underground pedestrian crossing, and wait for further instructions.

Shelters are intended to provide protection for up to several hours from direct and indirect attacks, including shrapnel, debris and blast waves. They are marked with a yellow square bearing the word “Shelter”. A safe place at home may include a basement, an interior storage room, a windowless corridor or bathroom, or a space with at least two walls between a person and the outside of the building. People are advised to avoid windows, balconies, lifts, open spaces and the top floor of a building.

The last red-level air alert was announced on October 18 in Panevėžys and Šiauliai counties after an object entered Lithuanian airspace. It was cancelled about an hour later.