Air threat lifted in Vilnius County but remains in Utena

A possible air threat was lifted in Vilnius County on Tuesday evening but remained in Utena County, LRT reported, citing the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

The National Crisis Management Centre said an unidentified object was travelling from the direction of Belarus. NATO air policing mission fighter jets were scrambled after the alerts were issued for both counties, centre head Vilmantas Vitkauskas said.

Vitkauskas said it had not been confirmed that the object was a drone.

Residents advised to prepare a safe place or shelter, stay away from any suspicious object and call 112 if they see one. Shelters are marked with a yellow sign reading “Shelter”. A basement or a windowless interior room may also be used as a safe place; people should keep at least two walls between themselves and the outside of the building.

The last air alert, issued at the red level, was on October 18 after an object entered Lithuanian airspace. It covered Panevėžys and Šiauliai counties and was lifted about an hour later.