NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace shortly after midnight; authorities say it likely crossed from Belarus near Kaunas but the drone's precise origin remains unconfirmed. Alerts were issued across Vilnius as Lithuanian forces and Italian NATO pilots responded. Moscow has not commented. The incident comes amid a spike in drone incursions in Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
NATO Jets Shoot Down Drone Over Lithuania; Origins Under Investigation
[AFP via Getty Images]
NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down an unmanned aircraft that entered Lithuanian airspace shortly after midnight, President Gitanas Nausėda said. Authorities believe the drone crossed into southern Lithuania near Kaunas from neighbouring Belarus, though its precise origin remains under investigation.
Rapid Military Response
Lithuania's armed forces, supported by Italian pilots assigned to the NATO Air Defence Mission, responded to the incursion in what the Ministry of Defence described as a swift and responsible response. Drone alerts sounded across Vilnius and the surrounding region, prompting public warnings.
“A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets,” Nausėda wrote on X.
Investigation And Reactions
The national crisis management centre said a spokesperson confirmed the drone's exact origin has not been determined. Moscow has not commented on the incident.
Officials also referenced a separate sighting on 13 September, when an object reportedly crossed from Belarus, traversed Lithuanian territory and then entered Russian airspace without triggering air threat alerts. Poland reported "aviation operations" in its airspace the same week, attributing activity to Russian jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles conducting strikes on Ukraine.
Broader Context
Incursions by military and civilian drones have become more frequent across Europe since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO jets have scrambled several times this year to intercept stray drones that entered the Baltic states, and Ukraine has blamed many errant Ukrainian systems on Russian electronic warfare that can alter flight paths.
Lithuania, which joined NATO in 2004 along with Estonia and Latvia, remains covered by Article 5 collective-defence commitments. Officials emphasized that continued vigilance and allied coordination are essential amid heightened regional tensions.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing and will release updates as more information becomes available.
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