An air alert in Vilnius was lifted at around 10:58 on Wednesday following an earlier drone sighting.
Lithuania's armed forces have activated the NATO air policing mission and issued an air alert in Vilnius after a suspected drone was detected near the country's border on Wednesday morning.
"Air alert! Immediately head to a shelter or a safe space," the military said in an emergency announcement.
Details about what to do in an event of an air raid are available an the government's emergency response website, www.LT72.lt.
"This incident is similar to what we have been seeing in recent days in Latvia and Estonia; warning residents is a standard preventive measure," the military said in an earlier statement.
The drone activity was recorded in areas close to the border, near the Ignalina, Utena, Zarasai and Švenčionys districts in eastern Lithuania. The warning was later extended to the capital Vilnius and the surrounding region.
Residents in those districts have received public alert messages warning of a possible drone in the vicinity, with a yellow-level air threat alert issued in those areas. It was later alerted to a "red" – urgent – alert in the Vilnius region.
The military indicated that the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission was activated after the radar signature was detected within Belarusian territory.
Vilnius Airspace closed
Airspace over Vilnius airport was closed on Wednesday at 10:00 following the air alert.
Flights SK744 and TK1407 were diverted to Riga International Airport. The status of other flights will be updated shortly.
Lithuanian leaders taken to shelters after air raid alert
Lithuanian leaders were taken to emergency shelters following the air alert. Frederikas Jansonas, an aide to the head of state, confirmed that Gitanas Nausėda and presidency staff were escorted to safety.
A similar evacuation order was issued at the Seimas, with politicians and staff being led down to the shelter in the basement, according to an LRT reporter onsite.
Ignas Dobrovolskas, a spokesperson for the prime minister, confirmed that Inga Ruginienė was also taken to a shelter.
Train traffic halted
Train services have been temporarily suspended in parts of Lithuania. Passengers in the Vilnius district and at Vilnius railway station are being evacuated to shelters.
All trains in the Vilnius district are operating only as far as the first stop, where passengers and staff are being evacuated to safe locations.
Trains currently at the Vilnius railway station will also remain at the station and will not depart, while passengers are being evacuated to safe areas.
One drone sighted
"One drone was sighted over Vilnius District," Vilmantas Vitkauskas, had of the National Crisis Management Centretold, LRT RADIO later on Wednesday morning.
To be updated.
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