The drone downed by NATO combat jets over Lithuania is thought to have been a Russian projectile that went off course, President Gitanas Nausėda said after a meeting of the National Security Council in Vilnius on Wednesday.
“Based on what we know at present, it was probably a Gerbera-type drone,” Nausėda said. He added that it had likely been targeted at Ukraine but was diverted from its course by Ukrainian electronic warfare and entered Lithuanian airspace.
Nausėda said it was likely not a deliberate attack on Lithuania.
A drone was shot down by Italian Eurofighter jets over a rural area near the village of Pratkūnai west of Vilnius on Tuesday night. According to Lithuanian authorities, the drone was equipped with an explosive device and had likely entered Lithuania from neighbouring Belarus.
There were no injuries or damage. Authorities had previously warned residents in several regions about a possible aerial threat.
There have already been several drone incidents in the Baltic states, which are all EU and NATO members, since the start of the war in Ukraine. Drones intercepted using electronic countermeasures also pose a risk to neighbouring countries.
During Ukrainian attacks, off-course drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of the Baltic states, with some subsequently crashing. In the past, Russian-made drones have also flown into Lithuania from Belarus.
Nausėda pointed out the risk of further drone incidents and said that the ability to detect drones needed to be improved.