A drone that entered Lithuanian territory and detonated near the border with Belarus originated from Ukraine, not Russia as initially suspected, announced Prime Minister Inga Ruginene.

The aircraft was linked to a "Ukrainian operation against Russia," which further complicates regional security dynamics and raises questions about airspace control of NATO member states.

The incident occurred in the Varena district when local residents heard an aircraft passing overhead during the night. The drone then crashed into a lake and exploded, with no reported casualties.

Air defense systems and radars failed to detect the aircraft, most likely because it was flying at approximately 300 meters altitude - low enough to evade detection systems.

Officials in Vilnius initially cautiously suggested the drone may have originated from Russian territory. However, upon completing the investigation, authorities confirmed its Ukrainian origin, overturning their preliminary assessment.

It remains unknown whether Lithuanian authorities informed NATO allies about the drone's origin, raising concerns about the security implications of this incident.