NATO fighter jets intercepted and destroyed a drone that breached Lithuania’s airspace on Tuesday. This incident was confirmed by Lithuania’s president. The drone, identified as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), crossed into Lithuanian territory from Belarus, Russia’s close ally.
The UAV flew over Lentvaris, a location near Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. NATO aircraft shot it down near Kaunas, another significant Lithuanian city. This response underscores Lithuania’s commitment to protecting its airspace amid ongoing regional tensions.
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized the importance of readiness in light of Russia’s increasing hostilities towards Ukraine. He stated the country’s determination to work with NATO allies to secure their airspace. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
The Russian defense ministry has been approached for comment by Newsweek. Concerns grow among NATO’s eastern members about the potential for the conflict in Ukraine to extend into alliance territories. Instances of Russian drones entering NATO territory have been reported before, including an incursion into Romanian airspace by a suspected Russian Shahed-type drone in the previous week.
This situation is still developing, with more updates expected.