EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has urged Lithuania and its Baltic neighbours to develop a “drone wall” following a recent airspace violation by a small aircraft from Belarus.
The incident prompted the evacuation of Lithuanian prime minister Gintautas Paluckas and parliamentary speaker Saulius Skvernelis to bomb shelters. Lithuania’s State Border Protection Service later confirmed that the breach had been caused by a small, homemade aircraft crossing the border.
“This incident shows that even a drone like this can breach Lithuanian airspace,” Kubilius said. “The real question is whether Lithuania is prepared to respond to such threats and has the necessary capabilities.”
Kubilius said drone warfare has played a central role in Ukraine, but warned there is “little evidence” that Lithuania or its neighbours are adequately prepared for similar threats.
“I appeal to Lithuania and other countries in the region to work on the Eastern Border Defense Plan,” he said. “A defence plan, primarily consisting of installing a series of physical barriers on the ground, but encompassing not only a physical wall but also the creation of a drone wall.”
