Drone alert in the Baltics: suspected object explodes in northern Lithuania
NATO jets scrambled but did not fire. Latvia warned three municipalities. A day earlier, Romanian F-16s shot down two attack drones over the Black Sea.
Symbolic image · Photo: Sqn Ldr Dylan Eklund / Wikimedia Commons, OGL 2 (cropped and resized)
An unidentified, possibly unmanned flying object entered Lithuanian airspace on Sunday morning, triggering air alerts in several regions. NATO fighter jets were scrambled. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas wrote that due to difficult weather conditions the pilots were unable to visually identify the object. According to the Latvian armed forces, the jets did not shoot down the suspected drone; it may have detonated on its own in northern Lithuania near the Latvian border.
At 7:40 am Latvia sent mobile alerts to the municipalities of Bauska, Aizkraukle and Ogre because the object was heading towards Latvia; the warning was lifted at 8:12 am. The drone's origin was initially unclear, and Lithuanian troops searched the area on the ground.
On Saturday evening, Romanian F-16s had shot down two drones over the Black Sea. According to Defence Minister Radu Miruță, the first was downed within two minutes of entering airspace, 25 km south-east of Sulina, and the second at 18:05, 20 km east of the town. The ministry described them as "jet-powered attack drones from the Geran family". Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said NATO would discuss Black Sea defence and deterrence at an upcoming meeting.