Poland denies report that Sunday’s drone was launched from Lithuanian territory

Poland’s Defence Ministry has denied a media report claiming that a drone that exploded in Lithuania on Sunday was launched from Lithuanian territory, urging the public not to spread what it called unfounded speculation.

“We categorically deny information published in the media claiming that, according to sources in the Polish Ministry of National Defence, the drone found in Lithuanian territory was launched from Lithuania,” the ministry said in a statement provided to LRT.

“We strongly urge people not to spread these unfounded speculations,” it added.

The claim was published by Polsatnews.pl, citing an anonymous source in the Polish Defence Ministry. It said the drone had taken off from Lithuanian territory about 30 kilometres from the Polish border and flown deeper into Lithuania without entering Polish airspace.

The report prompted debate in Lithuania, where initial assessments indicated that the drone had entered the country from Ukraine via Poland.

Poland’s Defence Ministry said it was analysing radar data from systems operating in the relevant part of Poland and neighbouring countries in cooperation with Lithuanian authorities. The ministry said it was awaiting the results of the requested analyses after the Polish defence minister ordered a review of the incident.

The ministry also said the drone that entered Lithuanian airspace early Sunday had been identified as Ukrainian and that Ukraine had officially apologised to Lithuania for the incident.

Lithuanian officials have likewise rejected the report that the drone was launched from Lithuania.

Deividas Matulionis, national security adviser to President Gitanas Nausėda, said Monday that Lithuania had credible evidence the drone crossed the border from Poland.

“Very unequivocally, I can say that we have credible evidence that the drone crossed the Polish border,” Matulionis told BNS.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas described the Polish media report as a misunderstanding, saying Lithuania had neither allowed nor would allow another country to use its territory or airspace to attack a third country.

“The sources are unofficial, so we consider this a kind of misunderstanding,” Kaunas said.