A flying object that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on Thursday crashed on its own shortly after detection, prompting an investigation by the Lithuanian military. Initial assessments suggest the object posed no danger and may have been used as an aerial target during military exercises in Belarus.
“This was a piece of foam and wood with some wires and other components. It was not a Shahed drone, and it did not pose any threat,” Lithuanian Armed Forces spokesman Maj. Gintautas Ciunis told reporters. “We do not yet know its purpose.”
The object entered Lithuanian airspace around midday and crashed within three minutes of being detected. It landed near the closed Šumskas border checkpoint, approximately one kilometre from the Belarusian border.
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The makeshift aircraft – described as similar to a small homemade plane – was initially suspected to be a Shahed drone like those used by Russia in Ukraine. However, border guards later clarified it appeared to be a lightweight aircraft made from plywood and foam, likely not carrying any payload.
Ciunis said several scenarios are being considered, including possible use in smuggling operations, reconnaissance, or as a probe to test Lithuania’s air defence responses. One likely explanation, he added, is that it was an aerial target used in Belarusian live-fire drills that veered off course.
“This could have been a target that escaped control during training exercises,” Ciunis said. “We’re not ruling out any version at this time, but all scenarios seem relatively simple.”
Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė later said the object was a Russian-made Gerbera drone.
“We can confirm that this is a Gerbera, such drones can have multiple uses. We are currently investigating the purposes for which it was used,” the minister told LRT RADIO on Thursday.
According to her, there is currently no evidence that the object was intentionally sent into Lithuanian territory.
The incident prompted a brief elevation in alert levels. NATO fighter jets conducting the Baltic Air Policing mission were placed on operational standby from training mode but were later stood down after the object crashed.
Local police and military forces were alerted, and officials confirmed no injuries or damage. The aircraft was reportedly traveling at around 50–60 kilometres per hour at an altitude of roughly 100 metres before it crashed near the village of Poteroniai.
Border officials noted that similar lightweight aircraft have previously been used by smugglers operating across the Lithuania-Belarus border.
As a precaution, top Lithuanian officials – including Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Parliament Speaker Saulius Skvernelis – were briefly escorted to secure shelters. Skvernelis confirmed he was taken to a shelter due to “an incident involving an unidentified flying object”. Paluckas was similarly evacuated during a government meeting.
President Gitanas Nausėda is currently on an official visit to Ireland.
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