Unidentified drones approaching from Belarus triggered air-raid alerts across Lithuania and Latvia overnight, prompting NATO fighter jets to scramble and residents to seek shelter.
The first yellow alert was declared in Lithuania's Vilnius and Utena regions around 23:00 Tuesday and lifted shortly after midnight. A second alert then expanded to much of central and northern Lithuania, including Kaunas, and was upgraded to red, instructing residents to take shelter. Latvia issued orange and yellow alerts for municipalities along its eastern border, including Ludza, Krāslava, Augšdaugava, Balvi, Aizkraukle, Jēkabpils, Madona, Cēsis, Smiltene and Gulbene.
Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre said three drones were initially detected in Belarus. One entered Latvia and later flew toward northern Russia. Another entered Lithuania near Druskininkai, may have briefly crossed into Poland, then flew through Marijampolė, Kaunas and Panevėžys before leaving near Pasvalys.
NATO Baltic Air Policing jets operating from Šiauliai Air Base were scrambled but did not shoot down the objects. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the crisis centre, said the jets came close to making contact but did not fire, possibly due to poor weather or safety concerns.
Vilnius and Kaunas airports had initially closed due to a separate warning about weather balloons before drone alerts forced further restrictions, affecting three flights and more than 400 passengers. In Latvia, a single aircraft escorted by Baltic fighter jets flew over Jēkabpils, Madona, Cēsis, Smiltene and Gulbene before leaving Latvian territory around 03:20. Latvian forces activated interceptor drones and air-defence units alongside NATO jets.
Polish authorities said they had raised alert levels but had no confirmation that a drone entered Polish airspace. No injuries were reported, and officials did not say how many drones were involved or whether any crashed.
The incidents follow a pattern of drone-related alerts along NATO's eastern flank. In mid-October, a Ukrainian drone crashed in northern Lithuania after apparent diversion by Russian jamming. Moscow has accused Ukraine of using NATO airspace as cover for attacks, while Kyiv insists Russian electronic warfare has driven drones off course. NATO countries blame Russia for the incursions.
