Lithuania's leaders take shelter during drone air alert

Flights were suspended and people were urged to take shelter after a suspected drone was detected near the Belarus border.

On May 20, 2026, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, experienced a drone-related security alert causing widespread alarm. Authorities instructed residents to seek shelter and evacuated political leaders, including the president and prime minister, as a precaution after drone activity was detected near Belarus, a nation allied with Russia. Although no drones were confirmed over Lithuanian airspace, the alert heightened ongoing fears on NATO’s eastern flank amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Lithuania's armed forces activated the NATO air policing mission and issued a 'probable air alert' warning after a suspected drone was detected near the country's border. The activity was recorded in areas close to the border, near the Ignalina, Utena, Zarasai, and Švenčionys districts in eastern Lithuania. The warning was later extended to the capital Vilnius and the surrounding region.

An air alert in Vilnius was lifted at around 10:58 on Wednesday following an earlier drone sighting. Lithuania's armed forces had activated the NATO air policing mission and issued an air alert in Vilnius after a suspected drone was detected near the country's border on Wednesday morning. The alert was lifted after the situation was assessed and deemed safe.

Lithuania’s Defense Ministry declared a 'yellow' alert on the morning of May 20 after a drone approached from Belarus. Automatic warnings went out to residents of the Ignalina, Utena, Svencionys, and Zarasai districts, followed by a warning to residents of the Vilnius district, which had been upgraded to 'red.' Vilnius Airport suspended operations for an hour starting at 10:00 a.m., and city public transit also stopped running. Evacuations to shelters were carried out in several localities, including Vilnius. Lithuania’s top leaders—President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, and parliament speaker Juozas Olekas—also took shelter.

The Lithuanian army said Wednesday morning that a drone was allegedly spotted near Lithuania's border with Belarus, prompting the activation of a NATO air policing mission. It was also reported that airspace was temporarily closed over Vilnius airport. Later, the army announced a 'Red' signal in Vilnius County—residents are advised to go to shelters. The air alert was canceled at 10:47 Minsk time.