Lithuania has requested NATO support to strengthen its air defences following two drone incidents in which military UAVs flew into its territory from Belarus.
Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys confirmed on Wednesday that he had discussed the incidents with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
“We agreed on the need for immediate steps to strengthen air defence capabilities along NATO’s frontlines,” Budrys said in a post on X.
On July 28, a Russian-made Gerbera drone entered Lithuanian airspace and was later found in a military training area. Prosecutor-General Nida Grunskiene confirmed it was carrying explosives. According to Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene, the drone may have been headed toward Kyiv but was disoriented by Ukraine’s defences.
A similar event took place on July 10, prompting Lithuania to demand an explanation from Belarus.
“These repeated incidents represent an alarming sign of the spillover of Russia’s aggression onto NATO territory,” Budrys said on Tuesday.
Lithuania’s request came during a political transition, with Rimantas Šadžius serving as acting prime minister following Gintautas Paluckas’s resignation.
