Vilnius [Lithuania], September 16 – NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight Lithuanian officials said Tuesday, in the first reported incident of a drone being downed over the country.
The drone was intercepted near Pratkūnai village in Kaišiadorys district about 100 kilometers west of Vilnius and near the Kaunas Reservoir, Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Center said.
Lithuania’s military said the drone’s origin and purpose remained unclear and would require further investigation. Air Force commander Antanas Matutis said wreckage had been recovered and the drone was likely carrying explosives.
Crisis center chief Vilmantas Vitkauskas told broadcaster LRT that the drone most likely entered from Belarus. It remained in Lithuanian airspace for about 30 minutes flying near populated areas before being intercepted.
The incident came a day after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that strikes close to NATO territory would prompt stronger support for Ukraine and pledged to reinforce the alliance’s eastern defenses.
Separately, Denmark said a helicopter was fired upon with flares while conducting routine photography of a Russian frigate in the Baltic Sea.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian drone strikes continued despite US President Donald Trump saying the two sides had agreed not to target energy infrastructure. Both sides reported fresh attacks and casualties.
