Lithuania: Belarusian drone sets off alarm bells
Reports of a large drone entering Lithuania's airspace from Belarus triggered a massive search in Lithuania last week. The unarmed Russian Gerbera drone was eventually found on a military training site deep in Lithuanian territory. During the search the military and government authorities had voiced doubts about whether the reported object was actually a drone and not just a flock of birds or a cloud. The media are scathing in their criticism.
More than just a security problem
Delfi defence expert Vaidas Saldžiūnas argues that chaotic reactions are just as problematic as the failure to protect airspace:
“Promises to strengthen air defences with the Ukraine war now in its fourth year come too late. The real danger is politicised hysteria, which mainly serves to create one thing: collective uncertainty. ... Anyone who makes billions available for defence can expect protection to be provided by all possible means, even if not every measure is understood in its entire scope. However, the standards for political quality have long been alarmingly low. It didn't take the 'long hand of the Kremlin' to create distrust of state authorities. This distrust is home-grown, the result of incompetence right here in this country on the part of hangers-on, prattlers and self-proclaimed patriots.”
Go look for mushrooms and flying objects!
A cynical reaction from Verslo žinios:
“What if the drone had been carrying explosives? Because afterwards the responsible authorities stopped denying its existence, and even appealed to mushroom pickers, noting that with the mushroom harvest in full swing they had a better chance of finding the drone if it had crashed. ... The defence minister announced that we can expect more such (supposedly stray) drones, with the start of the 'Sapad' military exercise in neighbouring Belarus. Apparently the only thing left for citizens to do is to pick up their mushroom baskets and get out there. Because those who are supposed to be leading the country, detecting dangers and defending it clearly prefer to babble on about birds and clouds.”