Unidentified objects disappear from radar over Utena region, search underway with helicopter
Two unidentified flying objects that entered Lithuanian airspace and were tracked by NATO fighter jets vanished from radar near the Utena region on Thursday, prompting a search operation involving a military helicopter, defence officials confirmed.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas told reporters that two objects—believed to be drones—were detected moving toward Utena but disappeared from tracking systems upon reaching the area. “A search is currently underway,” he said, adding that a helicopter had been deployed to assist.
Lithuanian Armed Forces Defence Staff Chief Rear Admiral Giedrius Premeneckas said the objects were first observed in Latvian and Belarusian airspace around 4 PM local time, with radar signatures matching those of drones. Both targets, flying one after another, were lost near Utena. “Military police aircraft could not relocate or track the signatures,” he stated, noting that low cloud cover further complicated visual detection.
Kaunas acknowledged speculation that the drones could originate from Russia rather than Ukraine, as previously assumed. “All versions remain under consideration,” he said, though he suggested the objects were likely Ukrainian drones knocked off course by electronic interference, rendering them uncontrollable.
The air raid alert in Utena district, issued Thursday afternoon, was later lifted, allowing residents to leave shelters. Similar alerts had been declared in eastern Lithuania, including Vilnius, on Wednesday. No objects have been physically located in either incident.
Premeneckas emphasised that while Lithuania’s early warning system is operational, evolving drone threats and varying weather conditions present ongoing challenges. “We must continue to monitor airspace violations, issue timely warnings to the public, and refine our response protocols,” he said.
Estonia and Latvia have reported more frequent air raid alerts in recent days. On Monday, NATO jets downed a drone over Estonia, while Latvian authorities have issued multiple warnings, exceeding Lithuania’s count.