Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has warned that further drone incidents are highly likely in the Baltic region, following a series of recent incursions that have raised security concerns.

Speaking to Euronews, Kaunas said there is a “high possibility” that additional unmanned aerial incidents will occur, as the Baltics continue to experience repeated disruptions. At least six confirmed or suspected drone-related incidents have been reported across the region in recent weeks.

His comments came a day after Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, was brought to a standstill due to a drone incursion near the country’s border with Belarus. The incident followed a string of similar incidents over the past three weeks.

“This is the new reality of what the Baltic states face,” Kaunas said in remarks to the Europe Today news programme.

“We need to adapt because the possibility of repeated similar scenarios is very high.”

At around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities in Vilnius instructed residents to seek immediate shelter due to drone activity. In response, President Gitanas Nausėda and Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė were moved to an underground bunker, while officials worked to determine the drone’s origin and potential threat.

According to Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Center, initial assessments suggested the drone could have been either a combat device or one intended to mislead defense systems.

“Based on the parameters we saw, it’s most likely either a combat drone or a drone designed to deceive systems and lure targets,” Vitkauskas said during a briefing. He added that it was not possible to determine whether the drone carried a warhead.

The origin of the drone remains unclear. However, officials noted that Ukrainian drones have recently been pushed into European airspace as a result of Russian GPS jamming.

In response to the incident, NATO’s air policing mission was activated. “A NATO air police mission was activated, so two Portuguese fighter jets surrounded and intercepted the drone,” Kaunas said.

“It's important to emphasise actually how crucial that NATO air police mission is in the Baltic states.”

Despite the disruption, Kaunas noted that the public response remained orderly. “People were alerted about the need to go to their shelters, and here no panic was detected, everyone was calm,” he said.

However, he acknowledged concerns raised by residents and stressed the need to strengthen national defences. “We need to increase and enhance our airspace defence,” Kaunas said.

“We are investing a lot in our air defence capabilities with new radars are coming.”

By Tamilla Hasanova

Source: caliber.az