Latest news with #GintautasPaluckas
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lithuania demands explanation from Belarus over downed drone
Lithuania has summoned a Belarusian diplomat over a drone that crashed over the Baltic country, a member of both NATO and the European Union. In a diplomatic note, Lithuania expressed its "strong protest over the unlawful entry" of the unmanned aerial vehicle into Lithuanian airspace. The authoritarian-ruled neighbouring country was asked to provide an explanation of last week's incident, the Foreign Ministry in Vilnius said on Thursday. On July 10, a Russian-made drone from Belarus crashed in Lithuania near the border. It was a so-called Gerbera drone, which resembles the Shahed combat drones used by Russia in its war on Ukraine. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the incident was likely to be linked to an attack on Ukraine. According to the Lithuanian military, the unmanned aerial vehicle was spotted outside the country's territory and crashed a few minutes after crossing the border. The drone, which prompted Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Parliament Speaker Saulius Skvernelis to take precautionary measures and seek shelter, posed no danger to the population as it was not equipped with explosives, the military said. Lithuanian investigators are now looking into the possible purpose of the drone, which was made of plywood and foam. Discussions are also under way about how to respond to the incident. Solve the daily Crossword
The Print
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Plywood drone from Belarus crashes in Lithuania, causing alarm
NATO Baltic Air Policing jets were dispatched to the area but were recalled after the object fell to the ground around 1 km (0.6 miles) from the border, armed forces spokesperson Gintautas Ciunis told a press conference. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Speaker of the Parliament Saulius Skvernelis were briefly brought to bomb shelters in response to the object entering Lithuanian airspace, according to their spokespersons. VILNIUS (Reuters) -An unmanned aircraft built from plywood and foam flew into NATO member Lithuania from Belarus and crashed, causing alarm before authorities determined it was not dangerous, Lithuanian officials said on Thursday. 'The object does not pose any danger now, but we don't yet know what was its purpose,' he said. Investigations were continuing to determine what it was for and where it came from. Lithuania's defence ministry said in a statement the object appeared to be 'homemade'. Images and a video shared by the army showed a winged device resembling a small airplane lying on grass. Its body was cut open in two places, revealing a wooden interior compartment with wiring inside. An emailed border guard statement said a preliminary assessment was that it was made of plywood and foam, and that there were no indications it was carrying anything. In September last year, a Russian military drone carrying explosives likely to have been intended for use in Ukraine crashed in Latvia some 90 km (60 miles) from the border with Belarus. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in VilniusWriting by Stine JacobsenEditing by Anna Ringstrom and Peter Graff) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Saudi Gazette
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Lithuanian politicians taken to shelters after Belarus airspace violation alarm
VILNIUS — Political leaders in Lithuania were briefly directed to air raid shelters on Thursday after the alarm was raised over an airspace violation from Belarus, Lithuanian media reported. Media reports stated that Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Parliament Speaker Saulius Skvernelis were taken to safety as a precaution while the situation was being investigated. Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda is currently on a foreign trip in Ireland. Authorities were initially concerned that the unidentified flying object could be an Iranian-made Shahed drone of the type used by Russia in ongoing air strikes on Ukraine, the BNS news agency reported. The Lithuanian army confirmed in a post on Facebook that the object was detected at 11:30 am local time (10:30 am CEST). Fighter jets that were already in the air as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission were scrambled to respond to the incident when the object fell to the ground around 1 kilometre from the border with Belarus. A closer investigation revealed that the object was an unmanned, makeshift plane reportedly made of plywood and foam, and it did not pose any danger. The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT) said it had often recorded cases of attempts to transport contraband cigarettes from Belarus into Lithuania using balloons or makeshift drones. — Euronews
Reuters
10-07-2025
- Reuters
Plywood drone from Belarus crashes in Lithuania, causing alarm
VILNIUS, July 10 (Reuters) - An unmanned aircraft built from plywood and foam flew into NATO member Lithuania from Belarus and crashed, causing alarm before authorities determined it was not dangerous, Lithuanian officials said on Thursday. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Speaker of the Parliament Saulius Skvernelis were briefly brought to bomb shelters in response to the object entering Lithuanian airspace, according to their spokespersons. NATO Baltic Air Policing jets were dispatched to the area but were recalled after the object fell to the ground around 1 km (0.6 miles) from the border, armed forces spokesperson Gintautas Ciunis told a press conference. "The object does not pose any danger now, but we don't yet know what was its purpose," he said. Investigations were continuing to determine what it was for and where it came from. Lithuania's defence ministry said in a statement the object appeared to be "homemade". Images and a video shared by the army showed a winged device resembling a small airplane lying on grass. Its body was cut open in two places, revealing a wooden interior compartment with wiring inside. An emailed border guard statement said a preliminary assessment was that it was made of plywood and foam, and that there were no indications it was carrying anything. In September last year, a Russian military drone carrying explosives likely to have been intended for use in Ukraine crashed in Latvia some 90 km (60 miles) from the border with Belarus.
The Star
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Plywood drone from Belarus crashes in Lithuania, causing alarm
VILNIUS (Reuters) -An unmanned aircraft built from plywood and foam flew into NATO member Lithuania from Belarus and crashed, causing alarm before authorities determined it was not dangerous, Lithuanian officials said on Thursday. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Speaker of the Parliament Saulius Skvernelis were briefly brought to bomb shelters in response to the object entering Lithuanian airspace, according to their spokespersons. NATO Baltic Air Policing jets were dispatched to the area but were recalled after the object fell to the ground around 1 km (0.6 miles) from the border, armed forces spokesperson Gintautas Ciunis told a press conference. "The object does not pose any danger now, but we don't yet know what was its purpose," he said. Investigations were continuing to determine what it was for and where it came from. Lithuania's defence ministry said in a statement the object appeared to be "homemade". Images and a video shared by the army showed a winged device resembling a small airplane lying on grass. Its body was cut open in two places, revealing a wooden interior compartment with wiring inside. An emailed border guard statement said a preliminary assessment was that it was made of plywood and foam, and that there were no indications it was carrying anything. In September last year, a Russian military drone carrying explosives likely to have been intended for use in Ukraine crashed in Latvia some 90 km (60 miles) from the border with Belarus. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in VilniusWriting by Stine JacobsenEditing by Anna Ringstrom and Peter Graff)
