Police lift Skydas plan after missile debris recovered in Biržai district

Lithuanian authorities lifted the Skydas security plan in Biržai district on Wednesday afternoon after recovering debris from a missile fired in an attempt to shoot down a drone that entered the country, LRT reported.

The plan was lifted at 1:15 p.m., police spokesman Ramūnas Matonis told the ELTA news agency. It had been activated at 3:55 a.m. and applied in Eiminiškiai village. The plan brings all special services to the scene.

Officers from the Lithuanian police anti-terrorist unit Aras, forensic experts and Lithuanian soldiers worked at the scene.

Air threat warnings were issued overnight across municipalities in southern, central and northern Lithuania. Red alerts went to residents of Panevėžys, Pasvalys and Biržai districts and the city of Panevėžys. Yellow alerts were issued in Radviliškis, Ukmergė, Anykščiai, Kupiškis and Pakruojis districts. A possible air threat was also reported in Kėdainiai and Prienai districts, Kaunas city and district, Marijampolė County, and Druskininkai and Lazdijai districts in Alytus County.

Four drones and dozens of balloon detections were recorded in the region. One drone, which likely went off course because of Russian electronic warfare measures, crossed Lithuanian territory. It could not initially be targeted because it was flying over an urban area. Two later attempts to neutralise it failed. One missile missed the drone and fell in Biržai district.