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In Lithuania, the day after a drone incursion in Vilnius caused the paralysis of the capital – an incident which follows several others of this type in three weeks throughout the region – Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas called on Europe to prepare for the high probability that other incursions occur.
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“This is the new reality that the Baltic states are facing. We must adapt, because the possibility of seeing these scenarios repeated is very high”he declared in an exclusive interview on the show Europe Today.
This Wednesday at 10 a.m., residents of Vilnius were asked to immediately take shelter due to drone activity near the border with Belarus. The country’s president, Gitanas NausÄ—da, and Prime Minister, Inga RuginienÄ—, were taken to an underground bunker, while officials remaining on the surface worked to determine the origin of the drone and measure its possible consequences.
“Based on the parameters we observed, it was most likely either a combat drone or a drone designed to deceive systems and attract targets.”declared Vilmantas Vitkauskas, director of the National Crisis Management Center of Lithuania, during a press briefing. The official added that it had not been possible to establish whether the drone was equipped with a warhead.
The origin of this drone has not yet been determined, but in recent weeks various Ukrainian drones have been diverted into European airspace due to Russian jamming of GPS signals.
“A NATO sky policing mission was activated, so two Portuguese fighters surrounded and intercepted the drone,” a précisé Robertas Kaunas.
“It is important to remember how crucial this NATO air policing mission is in the Baltic States”he added.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed the Alliance’s response to several drone incidents in recent days, saying in Brussels on Wednesday that they had been handled responsibly. “a calm, determined and proportionate response”.
The alleged incursion lasted only about an hour, but it is the first large-scale alert that has forced residents and political leaders of a European Union and NATO capital to go to shelters since Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
“People were informed of the need to reach the shelters and, here, no panic movement was noted, everyone remained calm. We must strengthen and improve the defense of our airspace. We are investing massively in our defense capabilities aerial, with new radars being deployed, a affirméRobertas Kaunas.
For her part, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, promised that the Union would respond to these incursions which are shaking the Baltic countries with “unité et force”.
