A homemade aircraft resembling a small drone crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and crashed near the border on July 10, prompting Lithuanian officials to take cover, including Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Parliament Speaker Saulius Skvernelis.

The military identified the object as a foam and wood-made device with wires, not a Shahed drone, and it was likely a decoy or reconnaissance device, possibly used in military exercises.

The drone was a Russian Gerbera model, designed to imitate Shahed-136 drones, and resembled a small airplane with a wooden interior, indicating it posed no immediate threat to residents or infrastructure.

The incident is under investigation, focusing on whether it was an unintentional entry, a provocation, or a test of Lithuania's air defenses, with authorities emphasizing the situation is under control.

Officials urged the public to rely on official information and avoid speculation, while the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence collaborates with NATO to monitor the situation.

This event is part of a broader pattern of increasing drone violations in NATO airspace, with similar incidents involving Russian drones reported in Latvia and Romania, amid rising tensions due to recent Russian strikes near NATO borders.

Some officials suggest the incident could be a provocation by Belarus or Russia, but further investigation is needed to determine the true intent.

The incident follows a pattern of drone violations, including a previous crash in Latvia in September 2024 involving a Russian military drone, highlighting escalating regional security concerns.

Investigators are exploring various scenarios for the drone's purpose, including smuggling, reconnaissance, or testing Lithuania's air defense responses.

There is no current evidence to suggest the drone was intentionally sent to Lithuania, and officials have not confirmed whether the entry was accidental or due to operator error.

Initial assessments indicate the drone posed no threat and was likely used as a target during military exercises, with no harmful payload detected.

President Gitanas Nausėda was abroad in Ireland at the time of the incident, and authorities have not confirmed if his or other leaders' sheltering was directly related to the drone event.