Lithuanian military finds drone destroyed over Kaišiadorys district

The Lithuanian military has confirmed that a drone destroyed in Lithuanian airspace was found near Pratkūnai village in Kaišiadorys district, LRT reported. Military experts were searching the area overnight, while the perimeter was guarded by military police.

LRT journalists at the scene reported that access to the area had been restricted. Bright floodlights illuminated part of a wooded area, where investigators were believed to be looking for the drone or its wreckage. Firefighters, police officers and a medical crew were also present.

Pratkūnai is a sparsely populated village near Kruonis, with only a few residents, according to LRT. A small village road leads towards the location where the drone was destroyed.

The type of drone had not initially been established, and it was unclear whether it was a military drone carrying explosives. The head of the National Crisis Management Centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, said the drone had probably entered Lithuania from Belarus.

Residents in nearby areas reported hearing NATO fighter jets shortly after midnight. A resident of Ringailiai village in the Nemaitonys eldership posted an audio recording in which aircraft could be heard flying overhead.

An air danger alert was initially issued for Vilnius city and district, Trakai and Elektrėnai districts, and later for Kaunas County as the drone continued flying. Lithuania has issued warnings about possible air dangers several times in recent months, but this was the first time a drone had been destroyed over the country.

A warning issued to parts of southeastern Lithuania on Sunday was later attributed to radar systems detecting a flock of birds.