On March 23, 2026, Lithuania's military reported the incursion of a suspected drone that subsequently crashed into an ice-covered lake near the border with Belarus. The drone was located about 20 km from the border, and debris retrieved from around a hole in the ice has been identified as possibly coming from the drone.

Nighttime security footage released by Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT captured around 40 seconds of buzzing sounds, followed by a loud explosion and visible pieces of flaming debris ascending. An army spokesperson, Gintautas Ciunis, stated, “We are very close to Belarus... The most likely assumption is it came from this country.” However, authorities confirmed that no explosives were present at the crash site.

Following the incident, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene convened a National Security Commission consultation, scheduled for Tuesday, to address the implications of the drone crash. This incident adds to ongoing concerns within Lithuania, which had previously requested NATO to enhance its air defense systems after two earlier drone incursions from Belarus in July 2025.

Lithuanian intelligence suggested that both of those previous drone incursions occurred accidentally. As tensions remain high in the region, this recent event has stirred discussions on military readiness and the necessity for stringent airspace monitoring measures.