Lithuanian president: drone downing shows that 'we can when we want to'

VILNIUS – Actions taken in the Kaisiadorys district to shoot down a drone that had violated Lithuanian airspace demonstrate that if there is a genuine need, it is possible to do so, President Gitanas Nauseda has said.

However, according to the Lithuanian leader, capabilities for detecting airspace violators must continue to be developed.

“This is an example that shows that if we truly want to, we can and are capable of doing so, and we will continue to improve our detection capabilities as much as possible and, without a doubt, respond very quickly to ensure the safety of our people,” Nauseda, who is currently visiting Finland, said in video comments released by the presidential office.

He said that he currently has no information on whether the downed drone was carrying explosives, but he expects to receive more details from the relevant agencies by Wednesday morning, when a previously scheduled meeting of the State Defense Council will take place to discuss the development of air defense capabilities.

Nauseda also said he had discussed the incident with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Early Tuesday, a drone that had flown into Lithuania’s airspace from Belarus was shot down in Kaisiadorys District, near the Kruonis Pumped-Storage Power Station, by Italian fighter jets stationed at the NATO air base in Siauliai.

As the unmanned aircraft flew over Lithuanian territory, potential air threat alert notifications were sent to residents in Vilnius and Kaunas Counties.

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, potential air threat alerts have been issued repeatedly in Lithuania over the past few months. However, Tuesday’s incident marked the first time a drone had been shot down in the country’s airspace. 

A NATO fighter shot down a Ukrainian drone over Estonia in May, in what was the first interception of a foreign drone in the airspace of a Baltic state by NATO's air police since the war began. In June, French fighter jets participating in NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission downed a drone over Latvia, which was the first time a drone had been shot down in that country‘s airspace.