Lithuania to keep bomb shelters open 24/7 amid rising drone threats

Lithuania will require all municipal bomb shelters to remain open around the clock following repeated drone incursions from Belarus, Prime Minister Ingrida Ruginienė announced Wednesday after a National Security Commission meeting.

The decision comes after a red air raid alert was declared in the Vilnius region earlier in the day, forcing residents to seek shelter. While the threat was later lifted, reports emerged of some shelters being locked or schools failing to respond appropriately.

“We will demand that all shelters in municipalities remain accessible 24 hours a day during this sensitive period,” Ruginienė told reporters, acknowledging systemic gaps exposed by the incident. She confirmed authorities are improving the LT72 alert website after technical failures and integrating new short- and long-range radars into a unified system by late summer.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas described the incursions as “a new reality”, noting Lithuania’s military—backed by NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission—responded swiftly to Wednesday’s drone detection. Estonian forces also downed a drone near their border Tuesday, with Lithuanian fighters scrambling from Šiauliai in support.

Ruginienė stressed that while alerts may become more frequent, clear communication remains critical: “It’s better to warn people more often than risk missing a real threat.” Authorities will also tailor warnings by audience needs and urge residents to follow only official instructions to avoid panic.

The National Crisis Management Centre has not confirmed whether the drone entered or exited Lithuanian airspace. Investigations continue into Sunday’s discovery of an explosives-laden drone in Utena district.