Key facts
- Lithuania has intelligence suggesting Russia may use Ukrainian-made drones for false-flag attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region.
- The warning comes amid increased tensions due to drone incidents and incursions in the Baltic states.
- A Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport in Germany was targeted by a drone carrying explosives.
- Two railway workers were killed in a Russian drone strike on a station in Kharkiv Oblast.
- Ukraine conducted drone attacks on two oil refineries deep inside Russian territory.
- NATO fighter jet scrambles increased by over 250% in July 2026 compared to the previous year.
Lithuania has intelligence suggesting Russia may use captured Ukrainian drones for false-flag attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic region, according to Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas. This warning comes amid heightened tensions and a reported increase in drone incidents and incursions in the Baltic states.
Kaunas stated that Russia is considering unconventional kinetic attacks and is likely to use Ukrainian production drones to carry them out. This follows a recent incident where a drone targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport in Germany, which was reportedly carrying ammunition. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the event as a "hybrid attack scenario."
Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued its deep-strike drone attacks on Russian territory, hitting two oil refineries, including one in Yaroslavl Oblast and another in Bashkortostan Republic. In the Kharkiv Oblast, a Russian drone strike on a railway station killed two railway workers.
NATO has also reported a significant increase in fighter jet scrambles, with over 250% more incidents in July 2026 compared to the previous year. This rise is attributed to Russian military aircraft repeatedly flying close to NATO airspace without flight plans or transponders, prompting NATO fighters to intercept them.