An unmanned aerial vehicle that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and crashed at a military training ground last week was carrying an explosive device, officials said Tuesday.
“The examination of the drone revealed it was transporting an explosive charge, which was successfully neutralised on-site by Lithuanian Armed Forces specialists,” Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė said at a press conference in Vilnius.
Colonel Dainius Paškevičius, chief of staff of the Air Force, commented that two kilograms of explosive material were found in the drone.
“For comparison, a Shahed or Shahed-type drone, which has a similar structure and model, can carry up to 50 kilograms of explosive material,” said the officer.
After the device was defused, the drone’s components were sent for further forensic examination, he added.
The drone crashed in the Gaižiūnai military training area in Jonava District last Monday but was only discovered four days later, on Friday.
This marks the second such incident in recent weeks. On July 10, a drone identified as a Gerbera model also entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
Grunskienė said preliminary evidence suggests the latest drone may also have been a Gerbera, though the investigation is ongoing.
Military officials believe both incidents may be linked to Russian drone activity in the region. They suspect the aircraft were redirected by Ukrainian electronic warfare systems while Russia was targeting Ukraine with drones.
However, officials said they are keeping all investigative possibilities open and have not ruled out other explanations.
The incidents have raised concerns in Lithuania about the security of its airspace.
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