Lithuanian minister calls Polish report on drone launch a misunderstanding

Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robert Kaunas has called reports that a drone which crashed in Lithuania was launched from Lithuanian territory a “kind of misunderstanding”, LRT reported.

Kaunas said he had been in contact with Poland’s defence minister since Sunday. After a meeting of Lithuania’s National Security Commission on Monday, he said Lithuanian intelligence officials and the military would send their Polish counterparts information and data through a secure channel.

He said the reports were based on unofficial sources and stressed that Lithuania had not allowed, and would not allow, another country to use its airspace or territory to attack another state.

Polish news outlet Polsatnews reported on Sunday, citing sources in Poland’s Defence Ministry, that the drone had been launched from Lithuanian territory about 30 kilometres from the Polish border and had not entered Polish airspace.

Lithuanian officials say the drone entered Lithuania from Poland early on Sunday. Parts of the aircraft were later found in Juodžioniai village in Pasvalys district. An explosion damaged a civilian car, but no one was injured.

Ukraine says the drone had veered off course and apologised for the incident.