Lithuanian Military Recovers Suspected Russian Drone Amid Tensions with Belarus

A drone, thought to be of Russian origin, was discovered at a military training facility after it crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, the Lithuanian army reported on Friday.

The drone was initially observed early on Monday, with locals capturing footage of it flying over parts of Vilnius before it vanished from sight.

«It’s probable that it’s the same one that intruded into Lithuanian territory on Monday. Preliminary assessments suggest it could be a Gerbera drone, though we are still verifying the specifics,» stated the Lithuanian military.

Gerbera drones, utilized by Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, are frequently used as decoys to confuse or divert air defense systems.

Lithuanian military officials retrieved the drone at the Gaižiūnai training grounds, located near Rukla, a site that also accommodates a NATO multinational battalion.

«I view it as a provocation,» remarked Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the acting leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, during a press briefing regarding the location of the drone’s discovery.

Authorities indicated that the drone was first detected in Belarusian airspace, but it subsequently disappeared from radar.

The government has received criticism for what some perceive as a sluggish response. The Lithuanian Defense Ministry announced plans to reassess its protocols and update regulations to facilitate the military’s ability to more readily shoot down suspicious drones.

On July 10, a similar Gerbera drone crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, which led some officials to seek refuge in bomb shelters.

Throughout its conflict with Ukraine, Russia has launched thousands of drones, some of which have inadvertently entered neighboring nations like Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Latvia.

In September 2024, a Russian Shahed-type attack drone crashed in Latvia.