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Lithuania Says a Suspected Drone Enters Its Airspace, Crashes Into Lake Near Belarus
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 23, 2026
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Quick Summary
Lithuania’s army reported that on March 23, 2026, a suspected drone entered its airspace and crashed through ice into a lake near the Belarus border, prompting a National Security Commission meeting. No explosives were found, but the incident follows previous incursions involving Gerbera drones in J
Suspected Drone From Belarus Crashes in Lithuanian Lake Near Border
Incident Overview and Investigation
Drone Crash Details
VILNIUS, March 23 (Reuters) - Lithuania's army said on Monday that a suspected drone had entered the country's airspace and crashed into an ice-covered lake some 20 km (12 miles) from the border of Belarus.
Debris found around a hole in the ice was believed to be from a drone, an army spokesperson said.
Security Footage and Eyewitness Accounts
Night-time security camera footage published by Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT included about 40 seconds of buzzing sound followed by a loud blast, with what appeared to be pieces of flaming debris seen flying upwards.
Army Response and Statements
"We are very close to Belarus... The most likely assumption is it came from this country", army spokesperson Gintautas Ciunis said.
No explosives had been found at the lake, he said.
Government and Security Reactions
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has called a National Security Commision consultation for Tuesday to discuss the incident.
Previous Drone Incidents and NATO Involvement
Lithuania last year asked NATO for more air defences after military drones from Belarus landed on its territory twice in July 2025.
Intelligence Findings
Lithuanian intelligence said earlier this month that both drones had entered Lithuania accidentally.
(Reporting by Andrius Sytas, editig by Terje Solsvik)
Key Takeaways
- •A suspected drone entered Lithuanian airspace and crashed into an ice-covered lake ~20 km from Belarus on March 23, 2026, with camera footage capturing buzzing and explosion sounds.
- •Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has convened the National Security Commission on March 24, 2026, to assess the incident and response measures.
- •This follows two Gerbera drone incursions from Belarus in July 2025—one carrying explosives—after which Lithuania requested enhanced NATO air‐defense support and adopted a response plan.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lithuania says a suspected drone enters its airspace, crashes into lake near Belarus
1What happened with the suspected drone in Lithuania?
A suspected drone entered Lithuanian airspace and crashed into a lake about 20 km from the Belarus border.
2Where did the drone crash in Lithuania?
The drone crashed into an ice-covered lake roughly 20 km from Lithuania's border with Belarus.
3Was the drone carrying explosives?
No explosives were found at the crash site, according to the Lithuanian army spokesperson.
4How is Lithuania responding to the drone incident?
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene called a National Security Commission consultation to discuss the incident.
5Has Lithuania experienced similar drone incidents before?
Yes, in July 2025, drones from Belarus had landed in Lithuania on two separate occasions.
