Lithuania said a drone entered its airspace and crashed near the Belarus border, raising fresh security concerns in a region already on edge over repeated aerial incursions.
The Lithuanian military confirmed the drone went down in a frozen lake around 20 kilometres from the Belarusian border. Debris was found near a hole in the ice, with officials saying the remains are believed to belong to the aircraft.
Night-time security footage broadcast by LRT showed around 40 seconds of a buzzing sound followed by a loud explosion, with what appeared to be burning fragments scattering into the air.
Military spokesperson Gintautas Ciunis said the most likely scenario is that the drone originated from Belarus, given the proximity of the crash site. However, authorities confirmed no explosives were found in the lake.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has called a National Security Commission meeting for Tuesday to assess the incident and consider potential responses.
The development comes after similar incidents in 2025, when Belarusian military drones entered Lithuanian territory twice. At the time, Lithuanian intelligence assessed those incursions as accidental, but the repeated breaches are increasing pressure on NATO to strengthen air defence in the Baltic region.