Drones that crashed in Lithuania in July likely entered the country’s airspace accidentally after being launched by Russia toward Ukraine, the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) said Tuesday.
“The data available from the investigation allows us to continue with the initial version that the drones that fell in Lithuania were launched by the aggressor Russia toward Ukraine and entered Lithuanian territory by accident,” the centre said in a statement to BNS.
The NKVC said it was providing consolidated information from Lithuanian agencies and institutions. It added that the Prosecutor General’s Office is working with domestic and international partners to ensure the probe is carried out objectively, thoroughly and as quickly as possible.
The statement came in response to a report published Tuesday evening by Delfi.lt, which cited unnamed sources claiming a drone that flew over Vilnius and later crashed at the Gaižiūnai training ground in Jonava District was launched from Belarus as part of a deliberate operation to test air defences and create a psychological effect.
In July, two Geran-type drones entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. One was later found at Gaižiūnai carrying 2 kilograms of explosives.
Military officials maintain that both drones likely strayed into Lithuania after Ukraine’s electronic warfare measures altered their flight paths.
The drone found with explosives in Gaižiūnai is being investigated separately as part of a war crimes probe into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The inquiry is led by the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau under the supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Lithuania has since taken steps to strengthen its air defences. After similar drone incursions in Poland and Romania, NATO announced the launch of mission Eastern Sentry to reinforce the alliance’s eastern flank.
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