{"id":188455,"date":"2026-05-21T16:03:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188455\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T16:03:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:03:51","slug":"minsk-blames-vilnius-after-ukrainian-drone-enters-from-lithuania","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188455\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk blames Vilnius after Ukrainian drone enters from Lithuania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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May 21, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>The Belarusian foreign ministry has lodged a \u201cstrong protest\u201d regarding an incursion by an unmanned aerial vehicle from Lithuanian territory, summoning Erikas Vilkanecas, Lithuania\u2019s charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four days ago, a Ukrainian Chaika drone, originally heading toward Russia to strike targets there, was detected near the village of Stanis\u0142a\u016dcy in the Viciebsk region’s Dok\u0161ycy district, said spokesperson Rus\u0142an Varanko\u016d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Lithuanian side took no action to prevent the combat drone from entering Belarusian territory, including timely notification of the Belarusian armed forces, in contrast to the measures the Belarusian side takes in similar situations,\u201d he noted. \u201cThese actions pose a direct threat to the security of the Republic of Belarus and constitute a gross violation of international law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk demanded that Vilnius investigate the incident, provide detailed information about the circumstances and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a different incident, a drone incursion from the Belarusian territory into Lithuania yesterday prompted Vilnius to scramble NATO fighter jets, issue an air raid alert for Vilnius County and temporarily restrict air traffic over Vilnius International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk warned Vilnius of a possible drone heading toward Lithuania, LRT<\/em> reported, citing Nerijus Stankevi\u010dius, commander of the Lithuanian Army\u2019s Land Forces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow accuses the Baltic states of allowing Ukraine to use their \u201cair corridors\u201d to strike targets inside Russia \u2014 a claim denied by Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said on May 19 that the Kremlin was spreading disinformation to intimidate its Baltic neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow considers operations \u201cto the south and north of Belarus \u2013 either against Ukraine\u2019s Chernihiv\u2013Kyiv region or against one of the NATO countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few days later, the Belarusian defense ministry announced the launch of a drill in which Belarus and Russia would rehearse the delivery of nuclear munitions and preparations for their use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in which the Belarusian authorities supported the Kremlin, allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and supplying arms to Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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