Lithuania explains why it did not shoot down russian drone from Belarus

Air targets are destroyed in peacetime only in very exceptional cases, and the decision to eliminate them is made by the Minister of Defense. This statement was made by the Lithuanian Armed Forces after an incident with the crossing of the country's airspace from the Belarusian side.

According to the Armed Forces, in peacetime, the airspace is managed by civilian structures, and control and surveillance is carried out by the Airspace Surveillance and Control Directorate of the Lithuanian Air Force.

"In peacetime, the destruction of air objects is carried out only in absolutely exceptional cases. Civilized countries do not shoot down objects that do not pose a threat, even if they have violated the state border," the army said in a statement.

The decision to shoot down air targets can be made if they may pose a threat to critical infrastructure or the national security of Lithuania. The decision to shoot them down is made by the Minister of Defense or the Air Force Command.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on July 10, a homemade aircraft similar to a small drone crossed Lithuanian airspace from the Belarusian side and crashed near the border. The country's officials confirmed that they were ordered to take cover.

As a reminder, mobile fire groups will be created in the Lithuanian city of Vilnius to protect civilian infrastructure from external influence.

Also, Lithuania and Finland will begin their own production of anti-personnel mines next year.