Drone crashes in Lithuania, damaging civilian car

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 14:31 · Archive

A drone crashed in northern Lithuania, damaging a passing car with debris, with no injuries reported.

A drone crashed in northern Lithuania, damaging a civilian vehicle in motion, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said. No one was injured in the incident, according to Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania's crisis management centre. The drone probably flew into Lithuanian airspace from neighbouring Poland.

NATO fighter jets were scrambled to identify the object. Two Italian Eurofighter jets were deployed in response, operating under NATO command. However, weather conditions prevented visual contact with the drone, Kaunas said. Some debris and parts of the object have already been found, though it remains unclear whether the drone contained explosives.

President Gitanas Nauseda said on X that the suspected drone explosion posed a danger to the civilian population and reflected how 'Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is spilling over onto the eastern flank of NATO and EU'. Kaunas proposed a joint investigation with Poland. An investigation is under way and NATO is in close contact with Lithuanian authorities. In the context of the Ukraine war, misdirected Ukrainian drones intended to attack targets in northwestern Russia have repeatedly entered Baltic airspace and crashed, as have drones of Russian make from Belarus.

How it is being reported

• Drone crashes in Lithuania, damaging passing carTwo Italian fighter jets were deployed after a drone was registered over Lithuanian airspace, officials say after a car was damaged by its debris.The West Australian · 18 Oct, 14:07
• Drone crashes in Lithuania, damaging passing carTwo Italian fighter jets were deployed after a drone was registered over Lithuanian airspace, officials say after a car was damaged by its debris.Perth Now · 18 Oct, 14:07

In this story: Lithuania · Poland · Robertas Kaunas · NATO · Ukraine · Russia · Gitanas Nauseda

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