Yellow air alert declared in Vilnius and Utena counties over unidentified object from Belarus

In brief

• Lithuania declared a yellow air alert in Vilnius and Utena counties on 10 November over an unidentified object approaching from Belarus.
• NATO air policing jets were scrambled and placed on standby.
• The object was 30 to 50 km from the border and not confirmed as a drone.
• The Vilnius county alert was later lowered to white; Utena stayed at yellow.

Unidentified object approaches from Belarus

The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) said an unidentified object was moving toward the Lithuanian border from the Belarusian side, roughly in the area of Ignalina. Its head, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, told LRT radio that it was not yet clear whether the object was a drone or something else, and that Lithuania's Air Force was continuing to monitor it (Vilniaus ir Utenos apskrityse paskelbus geltoną oro pavojų, pakelti naikintuvai – Bernardinai.lt). He said the object was about 30 to 50 kilometres from the border when residents received alerts a few minutes before 23:00.

Alert levels and fighter jets

The yellow level means an attack is possible but has not started, and residents were told to identify a safe shelter in case the alert rises to red (Dėl objekto iš Baltarusijos Vilniaus ir Utenos apskrityse paskelbtas geltonas oro pavojus – Bernardinai.lt). NATO air policing fighters were scrambled and placed on standby to shoot down the target if ordered (NKVC: iš Baltarusijos pusės prie Lietuvos sienos artėja vienas neatpažintas objektas – Bernardinai.lt). Vilnius airport's operations and airspace were restricted because of the threat.

Vilnius county alert lifted

Later on 10 November the NKVC lowered the Vilnius county status from yellow to white, meaning the threat had passed. The Utena county alert stayed at yellow (Vilniaus apskrityje oro pavojus atšauktas, Utenos apskrityje išlieka – Bernardinai.lt). Residents were asked to remain alert and keep following official information.

What remains unknown

As of the latest reports, the object had not been confirmed as a drone, and officials had not said where it ended up (NKVC: iš Baltarusijos pusės prie Lietuvos sienos artėja vienas neatpažintas objektas – MadeinVilnius.lt). Authorities asked anyone who sees a suspicious flying or fallen object to call 112 and keep away from it.