Lithuania to Send Belarus Diplomatic Note Over Drone Incident

Lithuania will formally present Belarus with a diplomatic note in connection with a drone incident on the night of September 15, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys announced on Tuesday.

Budrys said Lithuania would also consult with NATO allies. Lithuanian combat engineers dispatched to the crash site neutralized an explosive device found there. Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas stated in a preliminary assessment that the drone did not appear to contain explosive materials, though investigations continue.

NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down the drone before it crashed on Lithuanian territory. The incident comes amid heightened alert across the Baltic states following a series of aerial intrusions near their borders.

Context

Lithuania shares a border with Belarus, which has served as a key staging ground for Russian military operations against Ukraine since February 2022. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, commenting on this and other incidents, stated: "These are not isolated cases," urging stronger airspace monitoring across the region.