VILNIUS, March 24 (Reuters) - A military drone which crashed in Lithuania on Monday came from Ukraine and had been aimed at Russia before losing its way, Lithuania's prime minister said on Tuesday. (
Drone that crashed in Lithuania came from Ukraine, PM says
Incident Overview and Regional Security Implications
Details of the Drone Crash
VILNIUS, March 24 (Reuters) - A military drone that crashed in Lithuania came from Ukraine and was aimed at attacking Russia's oil exports before going astray, the Baltic country's government said on Tuesday.
Lithuania's armed forces said on Monday a suspected drone had entered the country's airspace and crashed into an ice-covered lake some 20 km (12 miles) from the border of Belarus.
Target and Context of the Attack
It was part of a Ukrainian attack on the Primorsk oil loading terminal, one of two major export facilities on Russia's Baltic Sea coast that were hit around the same time, the Lithuanian government said.
Official Statements and Security Concerns
"This is not a local incident, this is a part of wider security picture. Russian aggression against Ukraine creates additional risks for the whole region," Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene told a press conference on Tuesday.
Lithuania's Response and NATO Involvement
NATO alliance member Lithuania is a staunch supporter of Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Previous Drone Incidents and Intelligence Reports
Lithuania last year asked NATO for more air defences after military drones from Belarus landed on its territory twice in July 2025. Lithuanian intelligence said earlier this month that both drones had entered Lithuania accidentally.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Andrius Sytas, editing by Terje Solsvik)
