STORY: Lithuania on Wednesday (May 20) issued an "air danger" warning asking people to take shelter and suspended traffic at the capital's airport amid fears of drones violating the country's airspace.

"Immediately take shelter in a safe place, take care of your close ones, await new recommendations," Lithuania's army said in a message sent to people in the country's capital.

It was not immediately clear how widely the statement was distributed.

A warning was also issued in the Vilnius parliament building.

"Due to the risk of air attack, we ask all persons in the building to go to the nearest shelter," said an announcement on parliament's intercom.

Lithuania's national crisis management centre earlier said it had issued an alert in response to a drone in neighbouring Belarus that was seen flying towards Lithuania, adding the drone's origin had not been confirmed.

A NATO fighter jet on Tuesday (May 19) shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia, the Baltic country said, the latest in a series of airspace violations in the region amid frequent Ukrainian attacks on neighbouring Russia.

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REFILE: Lithuania shuts airport, issues 'air danger' warning amid fear of drones

VIDEO SHOWS: PEOPLE GOING TO SHELTER IN LITHUANIAN PARLIAMENT / SOUNDBITE FROM LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ROBERTAS KAUNAS/ ARCHIVE FOOTAGE OF VILNIUS AIRPORT

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: RE-FILING VIDEO TO REMOVE BLACK FRAMES IN SHOTS 1 - 8

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (MAY 20, 2026) (REUTERS-Access all)

1. WOMAN RUNNING TO SHELTER IN LITHUANIAN PARLIAMENT

2. SIGN READING (Lithuanian): “Shelter”

3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING TO SHELTER

4. PEOPLE AT SHELTER

5. LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ROBERTAS KAUNAS AT SHELTER

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LITHUANIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, ROBERTAS KAUNAS, SAYING:

“Now we have an air incursion in Lithuanian airspace. A NATO air police mission is activated and targeting a drone what we detected in Lithuanian airspace.”

7. PEOPLE TAKING SHELTER

8. ‘AIR DANGER’ WARNING ON PHONE READING (Lithuanian): "‘AIR DANGER. Immediately proceed to a shelter or safe place, take care of your loved ones, and await further recommendations. We will inform you separately when the danger is over.’ More information:"

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (ARCHIVE-OCTOBER 29, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

9. VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF VILNIUS AIRPORT

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (ARCHIVE-OCTOBER 31, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

10. EXTERIOR OF ARRIVAL TERMINAL AT VILNIUS AIRPORT

11. SIGN ON BUILDING READING (English) “VILNIUS”

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (ARCHIVE - OCTOBER 29, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

12. VARIOUS OF FLIGHTS DEPARTURE BOARD

13. CHECK-IN AREA

14. CHECK-IN DESKS

15. SELF CHECK-IN AREA

16. EMPTY CHECK-IN AREA

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (ARCHIVE - OCTOBER 31, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

17. DEPARTURE HALL BUILDING

18. PLANE STICKERS ON WINDOW

19. EXTERIOR OF VILNIUS AIRPORT