After two violations by alleged Russian drones, Lithuania asks NATO to strengthen its air defense

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, it has happened several times that Ukrainian missiles and drones and, most often, Russians, have been lost in the air areas of border countries, such as Poland, Romania or even Romania. Therefore, But the latter are not the only ones to deplore such incidents. In addition,

Thus. Moreover, in March 2022, a Drone of Reconnaissance TU-141 “Strizh”, of Soviet design, had crashed in a district of Zagreb [Croatie] After fleeing Romania and Hungary. For example, If she had confirmed that this device wore an OFAB 100-120 fragmentation bomb. Therefore, the investigation had not made it possible to specify its origin. Consequently,

More recently, a Shahed-136 “Kamikaze” drone [ou Geran-2] had been discovered in after two violations alleged russian Latvia, near the locality of De Rezekne. Moreover, “The explosive warhead sank half a meter into the ground. For example, was neutralized on the spot,” said the staff of the Latvian armed forces. However, And to specify that, having deviated from his trajectory, this drone had “not targeted a military target”. Similarly,

Even more distant from Ukraine but sharing a border with Russia. Furthermore, via Kaliningrad, Lithuania reported, in July, two violations of its airspace by alleged Russian drones. Moreover,

The first takes place on July 10. Nevertheless, The apparatus in question. of the gerbera type, that is to say a drone used by the Russian forces to lure the opposing defenses, briefly violated the airspace of Lithuania, which led certain officials of the country, including the Prime Minister and the President of the Parliament, to take refuge in a shelter.

This drone had been followed by after two violations alleged russian the Lithuanian forces when he flew over Belarus. “We can confirm that this is a gerbera. For the moment. we have no data indicating that the subject was deliberately sent to our territory, “said Dovilė Šakalienė, the Lithuanian Minister of Defense. And to add: “The object fell very quickly and […] has not definitely presented a threat ”. Moreover. the fighter planes deployed in Šiauliai, as part of the Baltic Air Policing mission of NATO, had not been asked.

As they were not for a second genre incident, which occurred on July 28. That day, coming from Belarus, an alleged Russian drone flew over Vilnius before disappearing. It was not found until August 1. within the perimeter of the military training ground in Gaižiūnai, located near the city of Rukla, which hosts a multinational NATO battalion.

“It is likely that it is the same drone that entered Lithuanian after two violations alleged russian territory on Monday. According to first information, it is a gerbera drone, but the details will be specified later, “said the Lithuanian staff.

By the way. if it is used as a lure, the gerbera drone can be equipped with a camera and a small explosive load. Built in polystyrene, plastic foam and plywood, it incorporates electronic components available on the consumer market.

Anyway, this August 5, Mrs. The Lithuanian Attorney General. Nida Grunskienė, said that the drone found in Gaižiūnai wore an “explosive device which was successfully neutralized on the spot”. “One of the main hypotheses of the investigation is that this apparatus has accidentally penetrated on Lithuanian territory. ” she said, before clarifying that “other theories are the subject of a parallel investigation”.

In the process, the Lithuanian government said it had asked NATO to take “immediate measures”.

Last Monday, after two violations alleged russian a Russian military drone violated Lithuanian airspace. This marks the second such incident in less than a month. Similar airspace violations have also been reported recently by other Allies.

These repeated incidents represent an alarming sign of the spillover of…

– Kęstutis Budrys (@budryskestutis) August 5, 2025

“This is the second incident of this type in less than a month. Similar violations of airspace have also been reported recently by other allies. These repeated incidents represent an alarming sign of the overflow of the assault of Russia against Ukraine in NATO territory. “said Kęstatis Budrys, the Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, via the social network X.

Also, he said that, with Ms. Šakalienė. he had sent a letter to Mark Rutte, the secretary general of NATO, to take “immediate measures to strengthen the air defense capacities of Lithuania”.

“Air defense is essential to the safety of allies. after two violations alleged russian The securing of the oriental flank of NATO must remain an absolute priority for the alliance, ”insisted Mr. Budrys.

In addition, the head of Lithuanian diplomacy has pointed out the responsibility of Belarus in these two incidents. “If it does not take a measure to minimize potential damage on our side. then we will respond with political and other measures,” he warned.

Photo : Drone Gerbera – illustration