Lithuanian authorities temporarily suspended flights and rail services in Vilnius on Wednesday (20 May) after a drone entered the country’s airspace, prompting emergency alerts and shelter orders across the capital.
Members of parliament, ministers and civilians were instructed to move underground as the NATO Air Policing Mission was activated. Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said military aircraft attempted to locate and neutralise the drone, which was later unaccounted for before the alert was lifted.
Key developments:
- Air and train traffic around Vilnius resumed after roughly one hour.
- Lithuania said the drone had entered from Latvia, though its origin remains unclear.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the alliance’s response as “calm, decisive and proportionate”.
- Baltic states continue to raise concerns over regional drone incidents linked to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The incident follows several recent drone incursions affecting Baltic NATO member states bordering Russia.
ℹ️ Reuters
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