The head of the National Crisis Management Centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, commented on LRT regarding today’s air threat warning issued in Vilnius County, which was later cancelled after the object was identified as a weather balloon.
According to him, after information was received about a possible airspace violation from Belarus near Nemenčinė, NATO Baltic Air Policing forces and military helicopters were placed on alert, Delfi reports. After the object was identified as a weather balloon rather than a drone, the threat warning was lifted.
“NATO Baltic Air Policing forces, as well as military helicopters, were placed on alert. The object was later identified as a weather balloon rather than a drone, and the air threat warning was therefore cancelled. Nevertheless, we recommend remaining vigilant, as other similar objects may appear during the day,” he said.
Vitkauskas explained that based on its characteristics, the object could initially have been mistaken for a drone, which is why forces capable of neutralizing it if necessary were activated. According to him, all air defence procedures were carried out promptly and in full.
At present, only one object is known to have crossed Lithuanian airspace. However, the head of the National Crisis Management Centre did not rule out the possibility of similar objects appearing later in the day and urged residents to keep their mobile phones with them and follow official announcements.
