Lithuania moves to reinforce air defence after drone incursion
Lithuania has informed European Union and Nato partners about a drone that was shot down over its territory overnight, according to defence minister Kęstutis Budrys. He said talks are under way on how to strengthen the alliance's eastern flank, and that Lithuania will seek discussions on the issue in both the EU and Nato because, in his view, much work remains to be done. Presidential security adviser Deividas Matulionis said the drone may have gone off course, and that investigators will determine whether its entry into Lithuanian airspace was deliberate. The State Defence Council is due to meet on Wednesday to examine the country's air defence arrangements.[S1]
Defence minister Robertas Kaunas said the drone was brought down near a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant that forms part of Lithuania's critical infrastructure. In a separate development, Vilnius airport halted operations for about half an hour in the morning after another unidentified object was reported nearby, producing delays on routes including Copenhagen, Tel Aviv, Venice and Warsaw.[S1]
Denmark summons Russian ambassador over frigate incident
Copenhagen called in Russia's ambassador following an incident in the Baltic Sea, where a Russian warship launched two emergency flares toward a Danish army helicopter. Denmark characterized the flight as ordinary surveillance of the frigate. Prime minister Mette Frederiksen branded the Russian move reckless, saying it was meant to intimidate and sow division, and that Denmark would hold firm. Foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen termed the frigate's behaviour entirely unacceptable. Former defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the event showed Russia's highly aggressive conduct and its drive to provoke possible conflicts. Defence minister Jeppe Bruus called an all-party meeting so political leaders could receive a fuller briefing.[S1]
Suspected sabotage and drone debris widen the security concerns
Dutch authorities are investigating a major outage that hit parts of the national railway system, suspecting possible sabotage after objects were placed on the tracks. Infrastructure operator ProRail said long, thin pipes were removed from the rails, and that the disruption appeared to be a deliberate act by humans, though responsibility and motive remain unknown. The objects caused failures across the network and affected several level crossings, disrupting road traffic. ProRail explained that its computer system identified sections of track as occupied even when no train was present, and that signals automatically turn red because safety comes first, forcing trains to stop or slow down. The operator did not comment on who might be behind the incident.[S1]
Poland found what appeared to be a Russian drone near its Baltic Sea coastline, a day after a Russian drone hit a train on Ukraine's border with Poland. Nato fighter aircraft based on the alliance's eastern flank brought down the drone above Lithuania, which was thought to have come from Belarus. Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda said this kind of readiness matters greatly for the region as Russia steps up its aggression against Ukraine.[S1]
Sweden waits for final election results as late votes pile up
Sweden's election authority indicated it anticipates an unusually high number of ballots arriving late this year, possibly about 300,000, which means the final tally might not be finished until Thursday. With 95% of votes counted, the left-leaning opposition bloc holds 176 seats in the new parliament versus 173 for the government, a margin of only 32,000 votes separating the two blocs.[S1]
