Thousands of people have been told to take shelter on NATO's eastern flank after an "unidentified flying object" was detected. A red alert was declared in Lithuania, with officials closing the airport for the country's second city of Kaunas on Sunday morning as NATO fighter jets were scrambled to the area.
Drone likely entered from Poland
Latvia's military said residents in central and northern parts of the country should take shelter. The object was likely a drone which entered from Poland, with armed forces there saying they are investigating a possible violation of airspace.
Lithuanian authorities said possible drone debris, found after the object vanished off radar, was being examined near the northern village of Juodzionys. Armed forces confirmed the unmanned object may not have been shot down and possibly detonated on its own.
Investigation under way
"Lithuanian police officers are currently working at the scene, conducting initial investigation and evidence collection activities," a statement said. "The circumstances of the incident, including the possible origin of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the possible cause of the explosion, are still under investigation."
Lithuania's northern neighbour Latvia issued a "yellow" air warning in some regions bordering Lithuania, citing a "possible threat," its army said.
Separate drone incident over Black Sea
News of the apparent incursion comes after Romanian F-16s on Sunday morning shot down two drones over the country's territorial waters on the Black Sea. The two drones were jet-powered, belonging to the Geran-family of attack drones frequently used by Russia to blow up targets in Ukraine, according to Romania's Defense Ministry.
The Ministry did not specify which nation the drones belonged to.
