Poland denies report that Sunday's drone was launched from Lithuanian territory

Poland's Defence Ministry has categorically denied a media report that a drone that exploded in Lithuania on Sunday was launched from Lithuania itself. The ministry urged the public not to spread what it called unfounded speculation. It gave the statement to Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT. The incident matters because it concerns security along the border between neighbouring NATO and EU states, where the route of drone flights has become a question.

What the report said

The claim was published by the Polish news portal Polsatnews.pl, citing an anonymous source in the Polish Defence Ministry. According to that source, the drone took off from Lithuanian territory about 30 kilometres from the Polish border and flew deeper into Lithuania without entering Polish airspace. The report prompted debate in Lithuania, where initial assessments had indicated the drone entered the country from Ukraine via Poland.

Positions of Poland and Lithuania

The Polish ministry says it is analysing radar data from systems operating in the relevant part of Poland and in neighbouring countries, in cooperation with Lithuanian authorities. After the Polish defence minister ordered a review of the incident, the ministry is awaiting the results of the requested analyses. It also said the drone that entered Lithuanian airspace early on Sunday had been identified as Ukrainian, and that Ukraine had officially apologised to Lithuania.

Lithuanian officials have also rejected the report. Deividas Matulionis, national security adviser to President Gitanas Nausėda, told the BNS news agency on Monday that Lithuania has credible evidence the drone crossed the border from Poland. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas described the publication as a misunderstanding, stressing that Lithuania has not allowed and will not allow another country to use its territory or airspace to attack a third country. He noted that the sources are unofficial.