LITHUANIA WARNS OF POSSIBLE RUSSIAN FALSE FLAG DRONE ATTACK

Lithuania's defence minister Robertas Kaunas has stated that Lithuanian intelligence suggests Russia may be planning a "false flag" drone attack in the Baltic region using Ukrainian-made drones for provocations. Critical infrastructure in Lithuania has been reinforced, and security institutions are monitoring the situation, according to Kaunas. No direct threat has currently been identified. Leaders of Poland and the three Baltic states fear that Russia is considering an attack or sabotage against their countries in an attempt to shift focus away from the war in Ukraine and reduce support for Kyiv.

Germany has separately launched a counter-terrorism investigation after an explosive-laden drone was discovered near a runway at Leipzig/Halle airport. German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt described the drone as representing a "new quality of threat". The drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane, though Russia was not directly blamed for the discovery. The nature and origin of the device remain under investigation.

The incidents reflect widening concerns about drone use and infrastructure vulnerability across Europe. Intelligence services across the region are reported to be heightening monitoring of potential aerial threats. The discovery in Germany and the warnings from Baltic states indicate elevated tension over the security of critical infrastructure in eastern and central Europe.