Lithuania reaches conclusion on Ukrainian drones that crashed in the country

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has said that examinations of drone wreckage found in the country so far indicate that the aircraft were Ukrainian drones that had veered off course and entered Lithuanian territory after being affected by Russian electronic warfare systems.

Source: European Pravda, citing Delfi

Details: The minister said there was currently no evidence suggesting that the drones found in Lithuania had been deliberately sent there by Russia.

Quote: "At present, this is what the evidence and confirmation we have indicated. However, this does not guarantee that Russia will not stage a false-flag provocation.

Whenever we find wreckage from Ukrainian drones, our services are able to examine the data systems and software and verify the information with our partners in Ukraine. That is why we have stated quite clearly that the drones that crashed in Lithuania were Ukrainian drones that had been affected by Russian electronic warfare systems and had deviated from their course."

Details: He stressed that Lithuania informs the public and its allies about such incidents only when it has confirmed information.

"In cases where drones did not crash but disappeared from our airspace, we found no wreckage, so we do not report or claim which country those drones belonged to, as it is not always possible to establish this. (...) We are not Russia; we do not lie. In every case, we speak very openly and honestly so as not to mislead either our partners or the public," the minister stressed.

Background:

• In May this year, an air-raid warning was issued in Utena County following reports that two drones had apparently entered Lithuanian territory.
• A red-level air-raid warning was also issued in Vilnius County. It was the first such incident in the history of the restored Lithuanian state.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.