Lithuania considers changing rules for shooting down drones

Lithuania will consult NATO on changing its rules for shooting down objects that enter its airspace, including when they cannot be seen visually, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius told LRT Television. LRT reported that the consultations are being launched following Poland’s example.

Sinkevičius said the current procedure does not allow an object to be shot down if a pilot cannot see it because of cloud cover or other poor weather, even when it appears on the fighter jet’s radar. He said the rules could be revised to let national law govern whether a pilot can decide to shoot down an object detected by radar. The process could be carried out within a month, he added.

A drone entered Lithuania and crashed in Pasvalys on Sunday morning, with debris damaging a civilian car. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the crash was a consequence of a Ukrainian attack on St Petersburg, and Ukraine apologised to Lithuania.

A red air alert was issued in Šiauliai and Panevėžys counties and a yellow alert in Kaunas on Sunday morning. The alerts were lifted about an hour later.

Sinkevičius also said an attempt was made at about 2 a.m. on Sunday to set fire to Starlink communications equipment at an unnamed company. The incident did not disrupt the company’s operations or Starlink service and caused no significant damage, he said.