Lithuania submits a protest letter to Belarus officials
In an unprecedented incident, a Russian-made decoy drone, preliminarily identified as a "Gerbera" drone, crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus on August 1, 2023. The incursion took place over the Gaižūnai military training ground in the Jonava district, central Lithuania.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly responded to this breach of sovereignty by summoning the temporary chargé d'affaires of Belarus in Vilnius on July 28. A note of protest was handed over, and the Ministry demanded a detailed explanation of the incident. Furthermore, the Ministry urged Belarus to prevent any future violations of Lithuanian territory.
The Lithuanian Air Force confirmed the detection of the UAV on Lithuanian territory on August 1. Local residents reported hearing the drone's noise during its flight over Lithuania. The drone, which is designed to mimic the Iranian Shahed loitering munition to deceive air defenses, was found after a 5-day search at the Gaižiūnai training ground.
This incident marks the second such crossing in about a month, with a similar Gerbera drone having previously crashed near the Lithuanian border after entering from Belarus. Initially, Lithuanian authorities considered the possibility of a provocation linked to the upcoming Russian-Belarusian military exercise “Zapad 2025”. However, they later suggested the drone may have been disoriented by Ukrainian air defenses.
The summoning of the Belarusian diplomatic representative reflects Lithuania's serious concern over this breach of its airspace, emphasizing the tense regional security environment. Further investigations and security measures are expected as Lithuania treats the matter with heightened caution, considering the geopolitical context involving Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
The announcement of this incident was made on the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Facebook page. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and diplomatic engagement in maintaining the peace and security of the region.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the need for a detailed explanation from Belarus regarding the incursion of a Gerbera drone into Lithuanian airspace, underlining the potential implications in general-news and politics. In response, the Lithuanian Air Force announced further investigations and planned security measures, stressing the importance of maintaining regional peace and security.
