Two drones that crashed in Lithuania identified as Ukrainian
Incident Report
Fact Sheet
| Date | 17 May 2026 |
| Tracker | European Airspace Violations |
| Type | Incursion |
| Location |
Utena District, Lithuania
55.53, 25.79 (approximate) |
What Happened
Lithuanian defence minister Robertas Kaunas reported on 21 May that two drones recovered on Lithuanian soil — one on 17 May, the other in March — were of Ukrainian origin. "Their targets were in Russia," he told the news agency ELTA, adding that the most likely cause of their deviation was Russian electronic warfare, with the investigation still assessing other possibilities. The March machine was found in the Varėna district, the May one in the Utena district, where its explosives were neutralised on site.
Incidents Around the Same Period
Nearest logged incidents
| Date | Type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2026 | Incursion | Latvia issues border air alert as drone crosses and leaves |
| 19 May 2026 | Interception | Romanian F-16 shoots down Ukrainian drone over Estonia |
| 20 May 2026 | Incursion | Lithuania issues first-ever red air warning as drone crosses border |
| 21 May 2026 | Incursion | Drone alerts in Lithuania and Latvia scramble NATO aircraft |