Vilnius Yellow Air Alert Lifted After Radar Contact Identified as Weather Balloon
A yellow-level air threat alert for Vilnius county on Saturday morning was lifted after the object that triggered it was identified as a weather balloon that had drifted into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
Alert Cancelled
A yellow-level air threat alert issued for Vilnius county on Saturday morning has been cancelled after the object that triggered the alert was identified as a weather balloon that had entered Lithuanian airspace from the direction of Belarus. NATO air policing fighters were scrambled during the alert, which was stood down shortly before 11 a.m. The status has returned to white, allowing residents to resume normal activities.
Defence Officials' Statements
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the radar contact, which had characteristics consistent with an unmanned aerial vehicle, turned out to be a meteorological balloon. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre, stated that the object's initial radar signature matched that of a drone, prompting the activation of forces that could have neutralised it if necessary. Only one object was tracked throughout the incident.
Public Advisory
Vitkauskas recommended that residents remain vigilant, as similar objects may appear again. He advised keeping mobile phones nearby with sound on to receive any future alerts promptly. The alert was brief; residents in the Vilnius region received mobile notifications urging calm before the all-clear was issued shortly after, returning the status to white.
Air Threat Warning System in Lithuania
Lithuania operates a three-tier air threat warning system. A shelter provides short-term protection, up to several hours, during an air threat, guarding against direct and indirect fire from aircraft, missiles, and artillery. Suitable shelter locations include underground car parks, garages, basements, pedestrian underpasses, tunnels, changing rooms, shower facilities in workplaces and sports facilities, and non-combustible warehouses. Upon hearing the civil defence air threat siren, residents are advised to quickly move to the nearest designated shelter or find cover in a ditch, trench, underground walkway, tunnel, or basement.
