Drone Shot Down, Defense Readiness Questioned
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Lithuanian forces successfully intercepted and shot down a drone that had entered the country's airspace from Belarus, near the crucial Kruonis Hydroelectric Power Plant. Residents in the Pratkūnai area reported seeing fire and smelling gunpowder in the sky following the downing, with authorities now searching for potential explosives carried by the drone. [cite: 15min, Delfi, LRT, Lrytas, Verslo žinios]
The incident triggered an air-raid alert and the scrambling of fighter jets, prompting the National Crisis Management Center to implement the 'Skydas' plan at the crash site. While the Lithuanian Army has released initial images of the scattered debris, the event has led to criticism from opposition figures and discussions regarding the nation's preparedness to defend against potential drone swarm threats. [cite: 15min, Delfi, LRT, Lrytas]
Amidst these security concerns, the Bank of Lithuania has maintained its economic growth forecast for the current year at 2.7%, with an improved projection of 2.4% for 2027.