Suspected Russian drone found in Lithuania
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Video and images said to be of the drone were posted to social media. It was found in a military training area in Lithuania.
SCREENSHOT, PHOTO: X
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- A suspected Russian "Gerbera" drone, which entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on July 28, was found in a military training area on August 1.
- Lithuanian officials consider the drone's entry a "provocation", prompting criticism of the slow initial response and a review of defence protocols.
- Russia uses "Gerbera" drones as decoys in Ukraine and similar incidents involving Russian drones have occurred in other bordering countries.
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VILNIUS – A drone believed to be Russian-made that entered Lithuania from the Belarusian airspace has been found in a military training area, the Lithuanian army said on Aug 1.
The drone entered Lithuania in the early hours of July 28, with members of the public recording its flight over parts of the country’s capital Vilnius before it disappeared.
“It’s likely it’s the same one that entered Lithuanian territory on Monday. Based on preliminary information, it’s a Gerbera drone, but the details will be clarified,” the military said in a statement.
Russia’s Gerbera-type drones are used by Moscow as decoys in strikes against Ukraine with the aim to overwhelm and distract air defences.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces found the drone in the Gaiziunai military training grounds where the nearby town of Rukla also hosts the international Nato battalion.
“I consider it a provocation” due to where the drone had landed, Mr Mindaugas Sinkevicius, the acting head of the ruling Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, told reporters.
The Lithuanian authorities said they first tracked the object in Belarusian airspace before losing contact, with officials coming under criticism for their slow response.
The defence ministry vowed to review response protocols, pledging to allow the military to down the drones more easily.
A Gerbera drone used by Russia entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on July 10, prompting some of the country’s officials to be moved to bomb shelters.
Moscow is using hundreds of drones to attack Ukraine, some of which end up in other countries bordering the country, including Poland, Romania, and Moldova.
A Russian Shahed-type strike drone in September 2024 crashed in Latvia, another Baltic country member of Nato and the European Union. AFP
