VILNIUS (BN24) — Lithuania on Tuesday formally requested immediate NATO assistance to strengthen its air defence capabilities after a Russian military drone carrying explosives violated the Baltic nation’s airspace last week, officials said.
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys and Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene sent a joint letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urging swift action to bolster Lithuania’s aerial defenses amid increasing security threats from Russia.
Budrys disclosed on the social media platform X that on July 28, a Russian military drone intruded into Lithuanian airspace and was later discovered on August 1 in a military training zone near the capital, Vilnius. Eyewitnesses reported spotting the unmanned aircraft flying over parts of the city.
Prosecutor-General Nida Grunskiene confirmed the drone was equipped with an explosive device, which Lithuanian armed forces specialists successfully neutralized at the scene. Investigators consider one of the main hypotheses that the drone accidentally entered Lithuanian territory, though alternative scenarios remain under investigation.
Officials identified the drone as a Russian-made Gerbera model, typically employed as a decoy in Russian military strikes on Ukraine. This incident marks the second known breach of Lithuanian airspace involving a Russian drone in less than a month. Similar incursions have been reported by other NATO allies in the region.
“The threat is real and growing,” Budrys said, emphasizing the escalating risks facing Lithuania and its allies. He also pointed to Belarus, Moscow’s close partner, warning that Minsk bears responsibility to prevent such incidents. “If Belarus fails to take action to minimize the potential damage on our side, Lithuania will respond with political and other measures,” he added.
Lithuania’s appeal to NATO highlights rising security concerns across the Baltic region amid ongoing tensions with Russia, reinforcing the alliance’s critical role in safeguarding member states’ sovereignty.
