Lithuania Closes Part of Its Airspace

Lithuania has temporarily closed its airspace to flights along part of its border with Belarus, citing repeated drone (UAV) violations and security concerns ahead of the upcoming Zapad 2025 military exercises.

The Ministry of National Defense announced that the measure was implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications at the request of the Chief of the General Staff. The ministry stated, "This step was taken to protect public safety, as well as to mitigate the risks associated with airspace violations, and to ensure the necessary conditions for the Lithuanian military to fulfill its legal duties in peacetime."

The restriction covers airspace up to 3,660 meters (12,000 feet) along a roughly 90-kilometer line along the Belarusian border and will remain in effect until October 1, 2025. Authorities have said the ban could be extended if threats from drones persist.

Breaches and the Growing Threat

The incident in July of two military-style drones entering Lithuania via Belarus led to this decision. The first crashed shortly after crossing the border. In the second incident, a drone flying over Vilnius in the morning caused panic and crashed at the Gaižiūnai military training ground. Investigations revealed that the drone was carrying an active warhead.

It was stated that both vehicles were Russian-made Gerbera models and that their design was similar to the Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze UAVs used by Russia in Ukraine.

Similar Incident in Poland

A similar incident occurred in the village of Osiny in eastern Poland on August 20, 2025. An object reportedly crashed and exploded in the area, approximately 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The Lublin Prosecutor's Office stated that the object was likely a military drone. Initial findings indicated that the drone was equipped with a Chinese-made engine and a self-destruct warhead.

NATO Eastern Flank on Alert

Following the violations, Lithuania and Poland called for a rapid strengthening of NATO's air and missile defense systems on its eastern flank. Lithuania stated that airspace restrictions would enable the military to respond more quickly to violations, particularly during Zapad 2025.