Lithuania is calling on NATO to help strengthen the Baltic nation’s air defenses after a Russian drone carrying explosives entered its airspace from Belarus last week, marking the second such incursion in less than a month.
Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said the drone’s entry into Lithuanian territory was part of a troubling pattern of Russian behavior, calling it “an alarming sign of the spillover of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine onto NATO territory.”
Budrys confirmed that he had formally requested “immediate measures to enhance air defense capabilities in Lithuania” from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, including stepped-up allied air patrols and air defense deployments.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė also said the country is organizing mobile groups to respond to future drone threats, deploying “an air defence unit equipped with short-range weapons.”
The Russian drone, identified as a Gerbera-type UAV used for surveillance and attack, reportedly crossed into Lithuania from Kremlin-allied Belarus on July 28. It was filmed flying near Vilnius on July 28 before disappearing from view.
After four days of searching, it was located at the Gaižiūnai military training grounds and recovered on Aug. 1.
The drone “was carrying an explosive device, which was successfully neutralized by Lithuanian armed forces specialists at the scene,” according to Lithuania’s prosecutor general, Nida Grunskienė.
Air Force chief Dainius Paškevičius later confirmed the payload included “around two kilograms of explosive materials.”
While Lithuanian officials say the drone likely veered off course accidentally, officials have not ruled out an intentional airspace incursion. “I would like to stress that other theories are being investigated in parallel,” Grunskienė said.
Another drone crossed into Lithuanian territory last month, also from the Kremlin via Belarus. Though it was ultimately declared harmless, the pattern has alarmed Lithuanian and NATO officials, particularly given the frequent use of Belarusian territory for Russian missile and drone launches targeting Ukraine.
“This marks the second such incident in less than a month. Similar airspace violations have also been reported recently by other allies,” said Budrys, citing drone incursions and debris recoveries in Latvia, Poland, and Romania since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago.
“The threat is real and growing,” he added.
Defense Minister Šakalienė said the country is responding by forming mobile counter-drone units and deploying a short-range air defense group to address immediate threats.
Budrys also demanded action from Belarus, which has long served as a staging ground for Russian military activity, including the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
“If Belarus fails to take action to minimize the potential damage on our side, Lithuania will respond with political and other measures,” he said.