Overview

• On July 28, a Russian military drone carrying nearly two kilograms of explosives crossed from Belarus before crashing in a Lithuanian training area, where forces defused it on August 1.
• Lithuania’s foreign minister Kestutis Budrys alongside defense minister Dovile Sakaliene formally wrote to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on August 5, requesting immediate measures to bolster the country’s air defense.
• The latest violation marked the second drone incursion in less than a month after an early-July breach by a suspected Russian-made Gerbera decoy drone.
• NATO has stated that it views these breaches seriously, vowing to remain vigilant and defend every inch of allied territory.
• Lithuania is probing the drone’s origin and intent; it expects NATO to specify deployments like a German brigade set to be operational in 2027.