Фото Д. Умбрасас/LRT
Lithuanian Air Force Commander Colonel Antanas Matutis said Belarus had not issued any warnings about the drone that was shot down by NATO fighter jets overnight, LRT reports.
“Before midnight, a radar object approaching Lithuania from the territory of Belarus was detected. It met certain established criteria, and it was assumed that it closely resembled an unmanned aerial vehicle. However, it was not possible to visually confirm the object from the ground, so air defense aircraft were deployed. They intercepted the drone and, in accordance with the procedure, destroyed it,” he said.
Matutis also confirmed that the UAV was shot down with a missile. He declined to specify the drone’s origin. According to him, this may be determined after the wreckage is analyzed.
The drone was shot down near the Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant. However, the Air Force commander said he had no information indicating that the facility may have been the target.
“We have no data indicating that the Kruonis power plant was the target. If, after a more detailed investigation, we manage to find anything among the wreckage, we will be able to comment on the situation. At this point, we have no such data,” he said.