Lithuania introduces drone alert system with sirens and phone warnings

Lithuania has approved a new alert system that will warn citizens with sirens and mobile phone notifications when drones pose a potential threat in the country's airspace, LRT reported on 5 September.

Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovich explained the two-tier warning system during the announcement.

"If a drone flies into the country and it is established that it may carry explosives, a red alert level may be declared," Kondratovich said.

For drones that military forces determine pose no threat, authorities will issue a yellow alert level.

The minister warned Lithuanians they will receive both mobile phone notifications and hear sirens when threats are detected.

"Therefore, he warned Lithuanians that they will receive not only danger notifications on mobile phones, but sirens will also sound," according to LRT.

The new protocols extend beyond immediate alerts. When Russia launches drone attacks on Ukraine, Lithuanian authorities and the army will mobilize forces and strengthen threat monitoring, the regulations specify.

Lithuania has already encountered Russian drones within its borders twice this summer. On 10 July, State Border Service personnel spotted an unidentified aerial object flying at approximately 100 meters altitude at speeds of 50-60 km/h. The object crashed minutes later near the closed Šumskas border crossing, roughly one kilometer from the Belarus border. Investigation revealed it was a Russian "Gerbera" type drone.

Lithuanian police reported a second incident on 28 July, when they detected an unidentified drone type that entered the country from Belarusian territory.