A Ukrainian drone crashed in Lithuania after likely heading to strike targets in Russia but veering off course and entering the Varėna district.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė reported the incident, LRT said.
Details
Ruginienė said the drone crossed Lithuanian airspace during a nighttime Ukrainian operation against Russian targets:
“The drone that crossed our airspace and entered the Varėna district was a Ukrainian drone, and it is linked to the operation that Ukrainians carried out that night against Russia,” the Lithuanian prime minister said.
The drone deviated from its route. According to preliminary data, electronic warfare systems may have caused it to go off course.
Lithuanian services responded promptly after detecting the object.
“The situation was addressed immediately, all procedures worked as intended, the area was secured, and responsible services, together with the military, worked at the scene,” Inga Ruginienė said.
The head of government stressed that an investigation is ongoing and urged against speculation about the type of drone or its specific mission until checks are complete.
Context
The incident comes amid intensified Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s military and energy infrastructure.
In particular, Russia temporarily suspended oil exports through the Primorsk and Ust-Luga ports after drone attacks. Several fuel tanks caught fire in Primorsk, and the port remains closed.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Russia earns up to $150 million per day in additional revenue from oil sales, amid the war in the Middle East and rising global energy prices.
