“Seek shelter now”: Drone alert near Belarus border forces Vilnius airport closure

Published connected 20/05/2026 - 10:43 GMT+2•Updated 10:49

Vilnius airdrome closed connected Wednesday aft a drone informing was issued crossed parts of the country.

Lithuania's defence ministry said an aerial alert had been issued and NATO Baltic Air Policing had been activated aft a suspected drone had been detected approaching from Belarus adjacent to the border.

"Immediately question structure successful a ​safe place, instrumentality attraction of your ​close ones, await caller recommendations," a connection sent to radical ​in the country's superior read.

Latvia besides issued a informing connected Wednesday greeting to residents successful the eastbound areas of Ludza, Krāslava and Rēzekne implicit what it said was a "possible threat" to its airspace.

"Seek structure indoors, adjacent windows and doors - travel the two-wall principle," the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) said successful a statement. "If you announcement a low-flying, suspicious, oregon unsafe object, bash not attack it and telephone 112."

The NBS aboriginal said the menace had ended.

It comes aft a Romanian F-16 combatant pitchy changeable down a stray Ukrainian drone implicit Estonia connected Tuesday.

Following the incident, Estonian overseas curate Margus Tsahkna said the cognition to intercept the drone had proved NATO defences worked.

"Romanian F-16s responded instantly from Šiauliai, demonstrating that Allies basal agreed and acceptable to support each inch of NATO territory," helium wrote connected X.