Vilnius, Lithuania – A Russian-made drone crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on July 28th, flying over parts of Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. The incident prompted a swift response from Lithuanian authorities and an ongoing investigation.
The drone, identified as a getera model – known for its reconnaissance and attack capabilities – was recovered on August 1st in a military training area near the city of Jonava, approximately 50 kilometers east of Vilnius. Lithuanian armed Forces specialists successfully neutralized an explosive device carried by the drone.
Attorney General Nida Grunskiene stated that the device weighed approximately two kilograms. The primary line of inquiry currently focuses on the possibility of accidental entry into Lithuanian territory, though other scenarios are also being investigated.
“I want to emphasize that other theories are being investigated in parallel,” Grunskiene said.
Lithuanian Air Force Head Dainius Paskevicius confirmed the presence of approximately two kilograms of explosives on the drone.This incident marks the second reported intrusion of a Gerbera drone from Belarus into Lithuanian airspace in less than a month; the previous drone, detected in late July, was deemed harmless after inspection.
Belarus has served as a key launch point for Russian military operations, including the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and routinely sees Russian missiles and drones transiting its airspace en route to Ukraine.Lithuania, a NATO member, has expressed concerns about the escalating frequency of these airspace violations.
Defense Policy Director Ramūnas Budrys highlighted the growing threat, stating, “The threat is real and continues to grow.” He also noted that similar airspace violations have been reported by other NATO allies in the region, prompting Lithuania to seek consultation with NATO regarding the situation. Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the belarusian chargé d’affaires to provide explanations for the incident.
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(ITA/ITA)
