Drones trigger two air alerts in Lithuania as Latvia, Estonia warned

Two air alerts were issued in Lithuania overnight after drones were detected, and NATO fighter jets were scrambled in both incidents, LRT reported. Residents in parts of Latvia and Estonia were also warned.

The first yellow alert, covering Vilnius and Utena counties, began at about 11 p.m. and was lifted at around 12:30 a.m. Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre head, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, said three drones were tracked in Belarus but did not enter Lithuania. One flew into Latvia and later continued north towards Russia.

Almost immediately after the first alert ended, another yellow alert was issued in Alytus County and later upgraded to red. It spread across much of central and northern Lithuania. Vitkauskas said a drone was believed to have entered Lithuania from Belarus near Druskininkai, possibly flown briefly into Poland, then turned north through Marijampolė, Kaunas County and Panevėžys before leaving Lithuanian airspace near Pasvalys.

Alerts were sent to Druskininkai and Lazdijai districts, Marijampolė and Kaunas counties, and the districts of Panevėžys, Radviliškis, Pasvalys and Biržai. Fighter jets detected the object but did not shoot it down. Vitkauskas said poor weather or the risk of firing over an unsafe area may have been factors.

At about 9:30 p.m., the crisis centre had received a warning about possible balloons that could disrupt airspace. Vilnius airport was closed first, followed by Kaunas airport. The airspace was closed again as the situation escalated and drones entered. Initial information indicated that three flights at Vilnius airport were affected, involving more than 400 passengers.

After 3 a.m., Latvia’s National Armed Forces reported an airspace threat warning in the municipalities of Cēsis, Smiltene and Gulbene. The armed forces said drone interceptors, air defence units and NATO air policing fighter jets had been activated in Baltic airspace. Authorities had not said how many drones were involved or whether any had crashed or been shot down. Similar warnings were issued in some areas of Estonia and Lithuania.