Lithuania informs NATO allies about drone incident in Varėna district

Lithuania has notified EU member states and NATO allies about a Ukrainian drone crash in the Varėna district near Lake Lavyso, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday.

The ministry stated that the notification aims to strengthen national and collective response capabilities, including measures against aerial threats, and to ensure the effective use of relevant European instruments.

“As confirmed by Lithuanian authorities on Monday, the drone that crashed in Varėna district on March 23 was a result of Ukrainian actions in defence against Russian aggression,” the ministry told the ELTA news agency. “An investigation is ongoing to clarify the circumstances, in cooperation with Ukrainian institutions.”

The drone entered Lithuanian airspace and crashed in Varėna district late Monday night. The military reported that radars did not detect the object, and authorities were only alerted on Monday afternoon. While no explosives were found at the site, officials did not rule out their possible presence.

Prime Minister Ingrida Ruginienė confirmed on Tuesday that the drone was Ukrainian. Police completed their on-site inspection on Tuesday evening, collecting debris from the downed drone.

Early Wednesday morning, reports also emerged of another drone—believed to be Ukrainian—striking the Auvere power plant chimney in northeastern Estonia after crossing from Russia. The incident followed Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s Ust-Luga port in the Leningrad region. Latvia also reported a drone explosion after it entered from Russian airspace.

The Foreign Ministry noted that Lithuania is in constant contact with Baltic counterparts to assess the situation and coordinate responses. Officials emphasised that Russia’s war in Ukraine poses broader security risks to the region.

“These incidents are part of a wider security context: Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, with Belarus providing unconditional support, creates additional risks across the region, including in neighbouring states. The threat is regional, linked to the consequences of Russia’s aggression. Ukraine is defending itself, and Lithuania fully supports it,” the ministry stated.

Last July, police reported an unidentified drone entering Lithuania from Belarus, found with an explosive device in a military training area in Jonava district. A similar case occurred on July 10, when a Belarusian “Gerbera” drone violated Lithuanian airspace without posing a direct threat, according to authorities.