Lithuanian border guards shoot down drone from Belarus
Lithuania–Belarus border (Getty Images)
In Lithuania, border guards shot down a small drone that had crossed from Belarus. According to the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT), as reported by LRT, the drone was likely non-military and of the type used by smugglers to transport contraband cigarettes.
The incident occurred during the night of July 16 in Lithuania's Šalčininkai District, where border guards shot down a small unmanned aerial vehicle. Preliminary findings indicated that the drone had entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
The wreckage, equipped with a GPS device, was found about four kilometers from the border, near the village of Vilkonys. No individuals or objects were discovered at the crash site.
The investigation found that the UAV was not linked to the Russian or Belarusian military. According to the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT), such drones are commonly used by smugglers to transport cigarettes. Officials noted that this is not an isolated incident — 54 similar drones were intercepted in 2024, and 34 have already been recorded since the beginning of 2025.
Later, Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Dovilė Šakalienė confirmed that the drone was a Russian Gerbera model.
Lithuanian military officials explained that the drone was not shot down because it did not pose a critical threat to the country, and therefore no order to intercept it was given.
