Lithuanian leaders rushed to bunkers as drone violates country’s airspace

Lead

A drone alert on Wednesday brought the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius to a standstill, sending President Gitanas Nausėda and Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė to underground bunkers and prompting residents to seek shelter in what was described as the first such warning in a NATO and EU country since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The alert, which lasted about an hour, was issued after the military detected drone activity near the border with Belarus. The defence ministry's warning, sent to mobile phones, urged people to "immediately head to a shelter or a safe place," according to accounts from multiple outlets. Air and train traffic in and around the city was suspended, and an evacuation order was issued at the Seimas, Lithuania's parliament, as politicians and staff moved to basement shelters.

Coverage comparison

Reporting from Reuters and The Guardian provided detailed on-the-ground accounts of the disruptions, with one Guardian report noting that schools brought children to designated shelters and residents of office and apartment buildings went down to basements. The same report quoted Lithuania's defence ministry warning: "Air raid alert! Go immediately to a shelter or a safe place, take care of your family members and wait for further instructions."

A separate Guardian report said the origin of the drone had not been confirmed, while The Hindu's account noted that the alert came after the military detected drone activity in Belarus but no drones were sighted over Lithuanian territory. The Hindu also reported that the alert had forced residents of Vilnius to take shelter near the border with Belarus.

The BBC's coverage focused on the incident's broader regional context, noting that a NATO jet had shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia a day earlier. The same outlet highlighted that Russia's ambassador to the UN claimed Kyiv would soon launch drones at Russia from the Baltic states. The Hindu's report, citing Ukrainian sources, said Ukraine's air force shot down 131 out of 154 drones that Russia launched overnight, though this claim has not been independently verified.

Key claims

• Lithuania's president and prime minister were rushed to underground bunkers during the drone alert, according to multiple outlets. This was reported as a precautionary measure, with the Guardian noting they were taken to shelters along with cabinet members and MPs. No injuries or damage were reported.
• A drone flew by Lentvaris near Vilnius before diverting in a different direction, as reported by Reuters, citing Lithuania's defence minister. This was later described as likely a combat drone or a decoy, though the origin and type remain unconfirmed.
• Air and train traffic in and around Vilnius was suspended during the alert, with the city's airport and airspace closed temporarily. The alert was lifted after about an hour.
• Lithuanian Foreign Minister has accused Moscow of "deliberately redirecting Ukrainian drones into Baltic airspace," a claim that has also been made by other regional officials. This appears to be a reference to Russian electronic jamming, which has been blamed for Ukrainian drones straying into NATO airspace.
• Russia, in turn, has accused the three Baltic states of allowing Ukraine to use their "air corridors" to strike targets inside Russia, though no evidence has been provided. This claim has been denied by Baltic officials.
• Nato's secretary general, Mark Rutte, said Wednesday that even if drones crash-landing in the Baltic states had been launched by Ukraine, they were "not there because Ukraine wants to send a drone to Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia," according to the Guardian. The drone shot down over Estonia was suspected to be Ukrainian, knocked off course by Russian electronic interference.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking during a visit to China, praised "unprecedented" relations with Beijing, saying both countries were committed to an "independent and sovereign" foreign policy, as reported by The Guardian and Reuters. The remarks came as Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed declarations of closer cooperation on foreign policy, trade, and energy.

Perspectives

• Lithuanian government and defence officials: Portray the incident as a serious security breach linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, highlighting the need for vigilance and NATO solidarity. They emphasise that the drone was likely either a combat system or a decoy, and that Russian electronic warfare is a key factor.
• NATO and EU officials: Express concerns over regional safety and accuse Russia and Belarus of bearing direct responsibility for the incursions. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte called for a "calm, decisive and proportionate response," while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia and Belarus "bear direct responsibility for drones endangering the lives and security of people on our eastern flank."
• Russia: Rejects such claims and has not taken responsibility, with its UN ambassador making unverified allegations that Ukraine planned to use Baltic bases for attacks. Russia has also accused the Baltic states of allowing Ukraine to use their airspace, a claim denied by the countries involved.
• The incident's broader context: The alert over Vilnius comes amid heightened tensions on NATO's eastern flank, with several drone incursions reported in recent weeks. The EU has expressed concern over potential escalation, and the Latvian prime minister resigned over political crisis stemming from Ukraine-bound drones straying into Latvian territory, according to the BBC and other reports.