Lithuania’s authorities issued an air alert warning (code yellow), on Tuesday evening at around 23:00, urging people to locate their nearest shelter and wait for updates. The warning was issued in the counties of Vilnius and Utena. It was called off before midnight.
“The Lithuanian Armed Forces inform: POSSIBLE AIR RAID ALERT (YELLOW). Find a safe place. If you see a suspicious object, keep away, call 112. Wait for the all-clear,” the authorities said in an emergency message.
An object was detected in Belarus travelling toward Lithuania, the authorities said, adding that it was still unclear whether it was a drone.
Code yellow does not mean there is an imminent danger, but people should be prepared to seek shelter in case the authorities declare an air alert warning (code red).
Find more information about your nearest shelter or safe premises on the government’s crisis response website, LT72.lt.
The object has not yet been identified and was moving through the Ignalina area, National Crisis Management Centre head Vilmantas Vitkauskas told LRT.
“It is difficult to say at this point whether it is a drone or some other object. Our air force continues to monitor it,” Vitkauskas said.
According to Vitkauskas, when alert messages were sent to residents shortly before 23:00, the object was approximately 30 to 50 kilometres from the Lithuanian border.
Fighter jets participating in an air defence mission are on standby, he added.
“If a decision is made to scramble the jets and neutralise the target, that is what will be done,” Vitkauskas said.
He could not specify the exact number of objects detected but said authorities were currently dealing with one.
Lithuanian Airports announced that operations at Vilnius Airport and the surrounding airspace had been temporarily restricted because of the potential air threat.
At around 23:45, the authorities called off the air alert warning in Vilnius County, followed by Utena County about 10 minutes later. Vilnius Airport also announced it was resuming operations, although cancelations and delays were likely.
