Ukrainian drone exploded over Lithuania, Vilnius says from Poland

Update 20.10.2026: Lithuania's Chief of Defence Staff Giedrius Premeneckas said the object was detected at 5:47 Lithuanian time 30–40 km from the border, still over Poland, and crossed into Lithuania at 6:02. Polish radars did not see it. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ordered a renewed analysis of the records, including Lithuanian ones; no results yet (Defence24, Rzeczpospolita). The debris fell near the village of Juodžionys in the Pasvalys district, more than 200 km from the Polish border.

In brief

On 18 October, Lithuanian services issued a red alert for two northern regions due to an object in the airspace; drone debris was found near the village of Juodžionys
According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Polish territory; Polish radars do not confirm this
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the Ukrainian side apologised to Lithuania, and the Polish military is examining various scenarios

Red alert and drone debris near the village of Juodžionys

A red alert for two northern regions of Lithuania was announced on Sunday, 18 October, in the morning, after an unidentified object was detected in the airspace. NATO mission fighter jets were scrambled to the threatened districts, and residents were advised to go to shelters. After several dozen minutes, the alert was cancelled.

Italian Eurofighters were scrambled as part of Baltic Air Policing. However, the pilots were unable to visually identify the object due to difficult weather conditions.

The Lithuanian National Crisis Management Centre reported that drone debris was most likely found near the village of Juodžionys. According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace from Polish territory. According to Defence24, the village lies more than 200 km from the Polish border.

Simultaneously, a yellow alert was in effect for three regions in Latvia. In both countries, the warnings lasted about 30 minutes.

Kaunas Airport was temporarily closed.

Ukrainian FP-1 drone deviated from route during attack on St. Petersburg

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas gave the name of the aircraft: a Ukrainian FP-1 unmanned aerial vehicle. It was said to have deviated from its route during an attack targeting St. Petersburg. The drone exploded over Lithuania, and the fragments damaged a civilian car. The driver was unharmed.

The Ukrainian side apologised for the incident. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi wrote on X that he regrets "any disruptions, threats and anxiety" that the incident may have caused, and committed to providing Lithuania with all relevant information. In the same post, he indicated the cause: Russian electronic warfare operations, which were said to have altered the flight path of drones during an operation targeting legitimate military targets on Russian territory.

Kaunas repeated this version. The Lithuanian minister explained in an interview with LRT that Russia uses electronic warfare measures and as a result drones deviate from their course.

Kosiniak-Kamysz: various scenarios are being examined, the Ukrainian side apologised

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, asked on Monday at a conference in Łapanów (Lesser Poland) about the drone that entered Lithuanian airspace, stressed that various scenarios are being examined. He expects the military to clarify the matter. Among the versions being considered, he mentioned, among others, a scenario assuming the UAV was a smuggling drone.

However, the latest information indicates it was a Ukrainian drone. Kosiniak-Kamysz also stated that the Ukrainian side apologised to the Lithuanian side.

— I am in contact with the Lithuanian Defence Minister [Robertas Kaunas] on this matter — added the head of the Ministry of Defence.

Polish Ministry of Defence spokesman Janusz Sejmej had earlier stated that Polish radar systems do not confirm a border crossing from Poland into Lithuania. The Lithuanian defence minister maintains that an FP-1 type drone deviated from its route during a Ukrainian attack on St. Petersburg and exploded over Lithuania, and its fragments damaged a civilian car.

Vilnius speaks of evidence, Warsaw awaits analyses

Vilnius claims it has evidence, Warsaw does not see it. Advisor to the Lithuanian President for National Security Deividas Matulionis said on Monday: "I can say unequivocally that we have credible data that the drone crossed the Polish border." He did not disclose the details of this data. He also added that the government in Vilnius has not yet received official information from Warsaw, and appealed not to treat media reports as confirmed findings.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius spoke even more strongly: data indicates that the drone entered the country through the Schengen zone, from Poland.

The Polish Ministry of Defence responds coolly. Ministry of Defence spokesman Janusz Sejmej stated that "in the Lithuanian direction, there is no confirmation of a border crossing from Poland into Lithuania." The ministry also denied unofficial reports that the UAV had taken off from Lithuanian territory.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz ordered the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces to conduct a detailed analysis of the events of the night of 17/18 October in the area of the border with Lithuania and the Polish-Ukrainian border. This concerns the available radar systems in that part of Poland and in neighbouring countries. The actions are being carried out in cooperation with the Lithuanian side, and the Ministry of Defence is awaiting official results.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas reported that he had contacted the Polish defence minister and requested cooperation in clarifying the incident. The indication of Poland as the direction of arrival is based on preliminary findings.

Sources

Article prepared with the help of artificial intelligence based on: RMF24, Gazeta.pl, WP Wiadomości, Defence24. Facts checked automatically against these sources. The Wiadomości PRO newsroom is responsible for this publication.