Lithuania’s National Security Commission (NSK) on Wednesday approved a new interagency response plan for airspace incidents that will raise the country’s alert level whenever Russia launches drone strikes against Ukraine.
The plan, prepared by the National Crisis Management Centre, calls for Lithuania’s institutions and Armed Forces to immediately mobilise once such signals are received. Airspace monitoring will be reinforced not only by the military but also by the State Border Guard Service. If a real threat arises, available means will be used to neutralise potential targets.
The government said in a press release that the Public Warning System will also be put on standby. If needed, the public will be alerted immediately through mobile phone messages, sirens and other channels.
Institutional coordination and response methods will be tested during a national mobilisation exercise in October.
Lithuania adopted these and other measures after two Gerbera drones crossed into its airspace from Belarus in July, one of them carrying two kilograms of explosives.
Military officials believe both Russian drones were targeting Ukraine, but their flight paths were diverted by electronic warfare systems.
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