×

Lithuania told residents to go to shelters after detecting a flying object

By Thomson Reuters Oct 18, 2026 | 12:48 AM

By Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Lithuania told residents in central and northern ​parts of the country ‌to go to shelters for about an hour on Sunday morning due to an unrecognized flying object, ‌the ​army and ⁠national crisis management ⁠centre said.

While the “red” air warning was in effect, NATO air police fighters were summoned ​to the area and Kaunas airport was closed, ⁠the centre said.

Northern ⁠neighbour Latvia issued and ​then dropped a “yellow” air warning ​in some regions bordering Lithuania ‌during the same period, citing a “possible threat”, Latvia’s army said.

Ukrainian drones have repeatedly ⁠entered NATO airspace in the Baltic region in recent months. Kyiv has ⁠said ‌they were steered ⁠off course by Russian ​signal ‌jamming.

This has stoked concerns ​that Russia’s ⁠war in Ukraine is spilling over NATO’s borders.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Editing by Saad Sayeed and ​William Mallard)