Lithuanian authorities are testing a drone detection system around Kaunas on May 25 and 26, with residents urged not to report drone sightings during the exercise, independent Lithuanian news agency BNS and public broadcaster LRT.lt reported on May 25.

As reported by IntelliNews, Lithuania issued an air alert in the Utena district on May 21 after two suspected drones entered the country’s airspace. The objects later disappeared from radar and are believed either to have crashed or left Lithuanian territory.

Earlier, drones of Ukrainian origin that may have been reprogrammed by Russia crashed in Latvia and Estonia.

According to the Lithuanian Radio and Television Centre, the drills will take place in the areas of Juragiai, the Roku training ground, Linksmakalnis and the Pajiesiai forest.

The exercise will involve several types of unmanned aircraft, including Shahed-type drones, flying at altitudes between 250 and 1,000 metres.

The state broadcaster said the tests are aimed at assessing drone detection capabilities and asked the public not to contact police services regarding the flights, BNS and LRT.lt reported.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, is expected to visit Lithuania on May 25, following a series of drone incursions into the country’s airspace last week, according to media reports.

Politico, citing unnamed sources, reported that von der Leyen will meet Baltic leaders to discuss a coordinated response to the incidents. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is also expected to attend.

According to officials familiar with the agenda, the visit is intended both as a gesture of solidarity and as an opportunity to discuss strengthening regional defence capabilities through European Commission funding mechanisms, Politico and, subsequently, BNS and LRT.lt said.