Lithuanian defence minister rejects reports crashed drone was launched from Lithuania

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas described Polish media reports that a drone which crashed in Pasvalys district was launched from Lithuanian territory as a misunderstanding. He said Vilnius would share its information about the incident with Warsaw.

Kaunas said reports about the launch site relied on unofficial sources. He stressed that Lithuania had not offered, and would not offer, its territory or airspace for an attack on another country.

Polish outlet Polsatnews previously reported, citing sources in Poland’s Ministry of National Defence, that the aircraft was launched about 30 kilometres from the Polish border inside Lithuania and had not crossed Polish airspace. Lithuanian officials, by contrast, maintain that it arrived from Poland.

Wreckage was found on Sunday in the village of Juodžioniai in Pasvalys district. Debris damaged a civilian car. Ukraine said the incident involved a Ukrainian drone that had gone off course and apologised.

Kaunas said he had been discussing the incident with his Polish counterpart since Sunday. After Monday’s National Security Commission meeting, he announced an agreement to send information to Poland over a secure network and continue the discussions.